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Queen's English

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: queen's English

English

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Etymology

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From Queen +‎ -’s +‎ English, possibly modelled after King’s English which is attested slightly earlier.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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Queen's English (uncountable)

  1. (chiefly England) Often preceded by the: spoken or written English regarded as used and safeguarded by the Queen of England; standard English characterized by correct grammar and what is thought of as proper usage of words and expressions, and (when spoken) formal British pronunciation.
    Coordinate term: King's English
    • 1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “The Story of the Young Man with the Cream Tarts”, in New Arabian Nights:
      But I am not so timid, and can speak the Queen's English plainly.
    • 1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 33:
      Picking up the different points of land was often the source of a joke, for our master was not blessed with the most perfect command of the Queen's English, and I overheard one morning the following nautical dialogue: "Look out, ahoy!" - speaking to the man in the foretop.
    • 1913, E. Phillips Oppenheim, chapter 22, in The Double Life Of Mr. Alfred Burton:
      He murdered the Queen's English every time he spoke.
    • 2006 April 7, Jeanette Catsoulis, “Movie Review: On a Clear Day (2005)”, in New York Times, retrieved 15 Aug. 2010:
      In the movies, bankable Brits fall into one of two categories: those who live in stately homes and possess a firm grasp of the Queen's English, and those who live in cottages or tenements and possess accents thick enough to caulk boats.
    • 2022 November 16, Paul Bigland, “From rural branches to high-speed arteries”, in RAIL, number 970, page 52:
      They've obviously never met before, but are getting on like a house on fire. Both are well-spoken and versed in the Queen's English. [this was possibly written before Queen Elizabeth II died]

Usage notes

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  • The term Queen’s English is used when the reigning monarch is female. When the monarch is male, King’s English is commonly used instead.

Alternative forms

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Translations

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Further reading

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