the Queen's English

Meanings

1. 1nounsingular

   Standard, correct British English, especially as taught in schools and spoken formally.

   Grammar: Always singular and treated as uncountable; often with in: speak in the Queen's English.

   Patterns

   • speak the Queen's English
   • murder the Queen's English

   My grandfather insisted we speak the Queen's English at the dinner table.

   Newsreaders once spoke the Queen's English with great precision.

   Her essay was written in flawless Queen's English, according to the teacher.

2. 2nounsingularhumorous

   Used humorously for proper grammar and spelling, often when complaining about careless language.

   Grammar: Often in a complaint: butchering the Queen's English.

   Patterns

   • butcher the Queen's English

   Text messages are murdering the Queen's English, he grumbled.

   She winced whenever the presenter butchered the Queen's English.

   He prided himself on never mangling the Queen's English.

Common combinations

speak the Queen's English

He spoke the Queen's English at all times.

murder the Queen's English

Slang can murder the Queen's English, some say.

butcher the Queen's English

Please don't butcher the Queen's English.

proper Queen's English

The tutor demanded proper Queen's English.

Synonyms and how they differ

Standard English

Standard English is a neutral, linguistic term, while the Queen's English sounds traditional and class-conscious.

correct grammar

Correct grammar is about rules, but the Queen's English is also about accent and polish.

Received Pronunciation

Received Pronunciation refers to an accent only, not to grammar or vocabulary.

Opposites

Word family

queen noun

a female monarch

English noun

the language

King's English noun

the same phrase under a king

Commonly confused: the Queen's English or British English?

Practice

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