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Queen's English. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
Queen's English, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
Queen's English in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
From Queen + -’s + English, possibly modelled after King’s English which is attested slightly earlier.
Pronunciation
Noun
Queen's English (uncountable)
- (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.
Usage notes
- 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.
Translations
spoken or written English regarded as used and safeguarded by the Queen of England
Further reading