The spelling of "outside of" is often debated among language enthusiasts and grammar aficionados. It is commonly used in informal speech and writing, but not widely accepted in formal writing. Phonetically, "outside of" is pronounced /aʊtˈsaɪd/ and /əv/, respectively. The preposition "outside" refers to a physical location or a state of being beyond or outside of something. The addition of "of" is unnecessary and redundant, and can be replaced with "outside." Therefore, it is recommended to omit "of" when using "outside" as a preposition.
Outside of is a prepositional phrase that is used to indicate something or someone existing, occurring, lying, functioning, or being situated beyond a particular boundary, location, or scope. It implies that the subject being referred to is beyond or excluded from what is being mentioned or considered.
This phrase is often employed to describe physical locations or positions that are beyond a given area. For instance, if someone says, "The playground is located outside of the city," they mean that the playground is situated at a distance beyond the city limits. In this sense, outside of conveys that the playground is not within the city boundary.
Besides referring to physical space, outside of can also denote a condition or circumstance that extends or falls outside a particular parameter. If someone states, "Outside of working hours, I like to relax," it signifies that during times other than their official working hours, they prefer to unwind. In this context, outside of demonstrates the existence of an additional sphere of life that is separate from and unrelated to work.
Overall, outside of serves as a convenient way to acknowledge and emphasize something existing or happening beyond a specific area, boundary, constraint, or context. It conveys the idea of being excluded or apart from what is central or under consideration.
The etymology of the phrase "outside of" can be traced back to Old English.
The word "outside" originated from the combination of the Old English prefix "ut-" meaning "out" and the word "side", which referred to the exposed or outer part of something.
The use of "outside" as a preposition in the sense of "beyond the boundaries or limits of something" can be found in Middle English. However, the prepositional phrase "outside of" emerged later in Modern English around the 17th century. The inclusion of the word "of" after "outside" further emphasizes the spatial or temporal relationship between the subject and its surrounding context.