The word ‘outwith’

[HBStowe]

Trying to settle an argument with a colleague. He’s English and works in England, I’m Scottish and work in Scotland (in case it’s relevant).

So... do you use / regularly come across the word ‘outwith’? I.e. ‘If you are trying to email me outwith opening hours please use my personal address’.

My colleague says it’s not a real word. I say it definitely is and I encounter it all the time. Is this a thing? Is it a proper word? I notice it’s underlined in red on my phone which doesn’t bode well, but I am absolutely certain I’ve seen this word in use before in other places.

What’s the verdict MN?

I'm Scottish and a lawyer -trained in Scotland and work in England. I use it in every day life and in legal drafting.

DH is Scottish and uses it all the time. I'm English and had never come across it in everyday speech until I met him.

It felt odd the first time I went to meet his family and friends. I went from hearing no-one use it day to day to hearing it everywhere in his home town.

I like it - don't use it though as I'd keep getting asked what I meant (we live in England).

It's a word! Yes it's Scots but perfectly good 'English'. My QC barrister (English) uses it and defends it to the death, which i love.

It's one of the first words I always add to the dictionary of a new work device. Very common in formal and semi-formal correspondence and speech up here, to the extent I'm always surprised when I get a red wiggly line and remember it's basically dialect.

I tried to look up cromulent in my mid 90s version of the Oxford Concise Dictionary, and it wasn't there. I will be sure to use it before the week is out though.

My current favourite adjectives are mendacious and egregious.

I use outwith all the time. In my medical writing. I am SE English born and raised, but went to uni in Scotland. I am not aware of having picked it up there, but it's possible.

I have so many words that I use which I must have picked up while a student that are just part of the language and I don't realise they are regional until I have to translate for someone!