courts will give words their plain, ordinary or literalmeaning, regardless of whether this will lead to an absurd result
R v Judge of the City of London Court
Lord Read said 'if the words are clear in the Act then you must follow them even though they may to an absurdity'
Whitley v Chappell
D was charged with 'impersonating any person entitled to vote. D pretended to be the person whose name was registered but he had in fact died
London and NERailwayCo v Berriman
A railwayworker was killed during maintenance along the tracks when oiling the points. His widow tried to sue for compensation because there had not been a look-out man under the railwaysregulations (negligence) The FatalAccidentsAct stated 'a look-out should be provided for men working on or near the railway line 'for purpose of relaying and repairing it'.
