as your honor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as your honor" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a legal context when addressing a judge or magistrate in court. Example: "The defendant respectfully requests that the court consider the evidence presented, as your honor has the authority to make a fair judgment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Now, the work here is a motion picture, as Your Honor knows, entitled "Anatomy of a Murder".

The New Yorker

And as Your Honor pointed out, each time you asked the question, you talked about legislation in other states.

The New York Times

Conservative, work casual clothes are best, they should refer to the Judge as "your Honor" or "Judge" and never use any foul language.

WikiHow

The novel opens with a writer named Nadia telling her story to someone she addresses as "Your honor," whose identity we will learn when we ought to.

The New York Times - Books

Arrive early and follow basic rules of decorum, such as waiting for your turn to speak and addressing the Judge as "your Honor" or "Judge" and witnesses as Sir or Ma'am.

WikiHow

Now the district court did find that there's sufficient consumer demand for a browserless operating system, particularly referring, as Your Honor did, to companies that their employees have no business surfing the Web or they may, in some circumstances and not other circumstances, so they want some without a browser.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Even while scoffing at his indictment on Monday, saying it was full of untruths and outright errors, Mr. Karadzic evidently sought to seem reasonable, referring to his prosecutor "my learned friend" and addressing the panel of four judges trying him as "your honors" and "excellencies".

The New York Times

MR. EMERSON: We have never made any argument on equal protection as such, Your Honor.

The New Yorker

"Guilty as charged, your honor," I confessed.

Huffington Post

"The marshals at the D.C. court couldn't imagine that somebody as old as I was, was clerk, and so they always referred to me as, 'Good morning, Your Honor,'" he said.

The New York Times

"And the judge, in my opinion, was too lenient, allowing Saddam to interrupt, and calling him 'Your Excellency' and 'Your Honor.' " As brazen as Mr. Hussein, according to Mr. Rubaie, was Ali Hassan al-Majid, 58, known to Iraqis as "Chemical Ali" for his role in directing a poison-gas attack on Halabja, a town in Iraqi Kurdistan, in March 1988.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If unsure of the proper form of address, consult with court staff or other legal professionals beforehand.

Common error

Avoid using lowercase "your honor" or any abbreviations (e.g., "Y.H."). The correct form is always capitalized and fully spelled out when addressing a judge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as your honor" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying the subsequent clause. It serves to introduce a statement or question directed to the judge, showing deference and acknowledging their authority within the court. Ludwig confirms the correct usage of the phrase in legal contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as your honor" is a formal and respectful way to address a judge in a courtroom setting. Ludwig confirms its correct usage, typically found in legal contexts within news, media, and wiki sources. While grammatically sound, it's generally reserved for formal proceedings, and alternatives like "may it please the court" or "if it please the court" can also be used. Remember to capitalize the phrase correctly and avoid using it casually outside the courtroom, as its formality can seem out of place.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

respectfully, your honor

Shortened version emphasizing the speaker's respectful tone.

with all due respect, your honor

Adds a preface of respect before presenting a potentially disagreeing statement.

may it please the court

A more formal way of addressing the judge at the beginning of a legal argument.

before your honor

Used when presenting evidence or arguments directly to the judge.

if it please the court

Emphasizes seeking permission from the court to proceed.

with the court's permission

Requests permission to undertake an action in court.

as the court is aware

Acknowledges the judge's knowledge of a fact.

to your honor's understanding

Highlights the speaker's intent to clarify a matter for the judge.

in the court's opinion

Refers to the judge's judgment or perspective.

as the honorable court sees fit

Grants deference to the judge's discretion.

FAQs

How do I properly use "as your honor" in a sentence?

Use "as your honor" to preface a statement or question directed at a judge, demonstrating respect for their position and authority. For example, "As your honor is aware, the evidence clearly indicates…"

Is it ever appropriate to use "as your honor" outside of a courtroom?

While technically grammatically correct, "as your honor" is generally reserved for courtroom settings. Using it outside of court can sound overly formal or even sarcastic.

Are there alternative ways to address a judge?

Yes, alternatives include "if it please the court", "may it please the court", and simply "your honor".

What's the difference between "as your honor" and "with all due respect"?

"As your honor" is a direct form of address. "With all due respect" is used to preface a potentially disagreeing statement while still showing deference, and can sometimes be combined: "With all due respect, your honor, I disagree".