I imagine a woman of stone with her arms crossed and her wide stance as unyielding as her disposition. Is this what a statue of limitations would look like? A force blocking your way? Or perhaps something headless, limited herself.
Whatever you may imagine for this phrase, keep this in mind: you need to imagine something. “Statue of limitations” is something made up. Or let’s be honest, we’re talking about a common mistake.
If you’ve ever debated between “statue of limitations” vs. “statute of limitations”:
The correct phrase is “statute of limitations.”
Like the difference between “Baba Yaga” and “Baby Yoda,” we know slight alterations in spelling make all the difference.
What is a “statute of limitations”?
We’re talking about a law that defines the amount of time one has between the date of an offense and when the clock runs out for legal action to be taken against the alleged wrong-doer. Am I a lawyer? No. Are there subtleties and sophistications to a statute of limitations beyond this summary? Absolutely.
Someone with a legal background could take this concept much further, but this is the gist. Like “case in point” and “for all intents and purposes,” some specialized language has become a part of our everyday vernacular. However, we don’t need law school experience to get this right.
Now maybe you’re thinking about the statute of limitations around grammar policing. Calm down, folks. Let’s just focus on doing better ourselves. That’s always the best strategy, legal or otherwise.
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