

It’s so prevalent that it may replace “Hear Hear.” Members of Parliament often shout “Hear him, hear him” to bring attention to another member’s statement during debate.ĭo you want to express your support for the other side during a heated dispute? If you’re a member of Parliament, you should yell, “hear, hear!” Hear, Hear: OriginĪt some time in the late 17th century, British Parliamentarians used the phrase “hear him, hear him” in a discussion. But if your intent to get everyone to listen up, stick with hear hear.“Here Here” is a common typo that’s become widespread. We suppose you could make a case for using here here in different circumstances. The latter is the correct way to write the phrase with the assumed meaning that it has in the British Parliament. The debate between here here or hear hear is an easy one to resolve. In print, however, its use in the United States leans more toward an exclamation of joy rather than a call to listen to someone speak. It’ll occasionally appear in newspapers and magazines with the same meaning it has on the British Parliament floor. And hear hear has also branched out into print. Here, after all, is a more common word than hear.ĭespite being incorrect, the use of here here persists in the English language. And since here and hear are homophones, the difference blurred over the years. It’s believed that since the phrase was more often heard than read, people didn’t know which spelling was correct. What About Here Here?Īs you may guess, when it comes down to a choice of here here or hear hear, the former is nothing more than a misspelling. If the clapping ban seems odd and out-of-place, there are a lot of classy things that accompany the rules that the institution enforces for which we can overlook it. They cannot call someone a liar without disciplinary action. While it may seem old-fashioned, it’s worth remembering that the British Parliament also forbids certain insults from being thrown around at anyone. He or she doesn’t acknowledge the chorus of calls, supportive or otherwise. Whoever has the floor speaks only to the Speaker. Over the years, “Hear him! Hear him!” became “Hear! Hear” with the same effect and intent. “Hear him! Hear him!” was and still is a means to encourage someone who is speaking and to suggest agreement with what is being said. Instead, you’ll hear references such as “my right honorable friend” or “the honorable gentleman.” They also cannot address each other by name. Members cannot clap because it’s viewed as a form of disturbance. The use of the phrase began as “Hear him! Hear him!” To say that the British Parliament has some odd rules is a bit of an understatement. And then there are the member interactions. House members can decide issues with a voice vote. Some consider the public business of the Houses as high entertainment carried out in regal fashion with all sorts of traditions. One of the enduring formalities of the British Parliament are the debates that accompany legislative matters. But you may ask, which is correct, here here or hear hear? The Tradition of Debate It is an institution marked by its adherence to tradition. Formed in 1707, it is the legislative body of government for the country. There was a time when the place you’d most likely hear either expression was the British Parliament or the Parliament of the United Kingdom, as it’s more formerly known.
