"Annex A refers."

Question

It is not uncommon to find "Annex A refers." or similar phrases in documents from the UK government, and occasionally the Canadian government.  Sometimes, they are in brackets.  Sometimes, they are "complete" sentences.  Does anyone have any idea the origin of such usage?Some people say they are grammatically incorrect because you need "to" after "refers".  However, I can find this usage even in a document from the Mayor of London (but I can't recall the URL right now.)  I suspect it originated as a short form of something like...... to which Annex A refers.What do you think?

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

intransitive form: needs to
transitive form: doesn't always need it

Pter · Answer

Would you please give me some examples?

Pter · Answer

And I mean examples similar to the phrase I am talking about.  I couldn't think of any and I have never seen such examples in dictionaries.

Marius Hancu · Answer

Document A refers document B
(meaning Document A makes reference to document B)

is perfectly good English. This is transitive.

However, many would not agree with me.

See:

refer (to)

I feel that things are changing here wrt dictionaries.

Pter · Answer

Marius HancuDocument A refers document B
(meaning Document A makes reference to document B)

is perfectly good English. This is transitive.

However, many would not agree with me.

See:

refer (to)

I feel that things are changing here wrt dictionaries.

Thanks Marius.

Perfectly good English? Really?

Also, your example couldn't really explain what I am asking. "Annex A refers." is usually used in the sense of "Please refer to Annex A."

Pter · Answer

Let me quote some examples.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmsctech/995/995we03.htm

UK Parliament - Select Committee on Science and Technology Written Evidence

the initiation of innovative collaborative R&D partnerships between AHRC and non-academic partners as part of the development and implementation of the Collaborative R&D Fund (Annex A refers)
The introduction of a Collaborative Doctoral Awards scheme (paragraph 13 refers).

http://www.dasa.mod.uk/info/corporate/frameworkdoc2005.pdf

Defence Analytical Services Agency Framework Document
by the Rt Hon Mr Adam Ingram MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces

The DASAOwners Advisory Board (Annex Arefers) provides advice to the Owner in undertaking this work.

http://natsar.amsa.gov.au/Council_Reports/1999rep.pdf

Report of the twenty-third Australian National Search and Rescue Conference

State legislation is in place in all States / Territories regarding the carriage of 121.5 MHz distress beacons for pleasure craft and commercial vessels (Annex A refers).

http://www.admfincs.forces.gc.ca/admfincs/subjects/cfao/010-04_e.asp

Canadian Forces Exchange and Liaison Programmes

Substantiating data, provided by the sponsor, however, must learly establish the value of such an exchange (Appendix 1 to Annex A refers).

"Annex A refers."

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