Reviewed case brief
Brownsea Haven Properties Ltd. v. Poole Corporation
[1958] Ch 574
[1958] Ch 574 · Court of Appeal (England)
- Court
- Court of Appeal (England)
- Year
- 1958
- Subjects
- Interpretation of Statutes
- Reviewed
- 2026-08-02
Rule established
The noscitur a sociis rule (a word is known by the company it keeps) requires that ambiguous words be read in the context of surrounding words. Words in a list take colour from each other, and each should be interpreted consistently with the overall context of the associated terms.
Facts
Issues
Held
Ratio decidendi
How to use it in an exam
Editorial source
[1958] Ch 574
Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.