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Example
Case laws
Exceptions / limits
Opposite / Related
Exam tip
Memory trick
Key takeaway
Expressio unius est exclusio alterius
| Literal meaning | The express mention of one thing excludes others |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | ex-PRESS-ee-oh OO-nee-us est ex-KLOO-zee-oh al-TEH-ree-us |
When a law names certain things, other things of the same kind that are not named are taken to be left out.
Example
A statute says a licence can be granted to 'doctors and nurses'. Pharmacists are not covered.
Case laws
- Nazir Ahmed v. King Emperor (1936), Privy Council: where a power is given to do a thing in a certain way, the thing must be done in that way or not at all.
Exceptions / limits
It does not apply if the omission was an accident or if the statute shows that the list is only an example.
Exam tip
Asked with ejusdem generis; the two are opposite in effect.
Memory trick
Name one, leave the rest out.
Key takeaway
A named item excludes the items not named.
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