OUT OF STATION???????

'Out of station' is a phrase which is wrongly used even by highly educated Indian speakers of English, including English teachers. Only a few know that this usage (which is used only by Indians, Pakistanis and the Bangladeshis) gained currency in India in the days of the British Raj.

'Station' has so many meanings; one of these is 'a small base for the army or navy'. During the rule of the British in India, the officers in charge of a 'station' used to go away temporarily on duty. On such occasions, the subordinates used to say "The colonel is out of station". The 'station' in this sentence didn't use to mean 'A PLACE OF LIVING'.

Interestingly, with passage of time, this phrase infiltrated into Indian Spoken English, which, of course, sounds funny to a native speaker!! Still doubtful??? You may look it up in Oxford, Cambridge, Macmillan, Webster's or any such internationally accepted dictionary.

So, it is better to avoid this usage in spoken/written English, especially when talking/writing to a foreigner.

By the way, what could be the exact usage then? Well, the British and the American users of English usually say:

"Jane is out of town",
"Sorry, I couldn't attend the party as I was out of town" etc.




That's all for now.
See you tomorrow.... err... the day after tomorrow; let me take a day off, guys!!
Regards

 Jacob (Nova English Campus)

SCF 53; Top Floor;

Kabir park Market;

Opp G.N.D.U;

AMRITSAR