Which statement describes the canon Expressio unius est exclusio alterius?

• A. General terms apply to items of the same class as those listed.
• B. Mentioning specific items implies exclusion of others.
• C. A word's meaning is defined by its own dictionary definition.
• D. If the statute is ambiguous, you interpret purpose.

Answer: (B)

Expressio unius est exclusio alterius means that when a statute or contract explicitly lists certain items, that listing signals that items not named are excluded from coverage. By naming some things, the drafter indicates the scope is limited to those items and nothing beyond them. This is why the statement “mentioning specific items implies exclusion of others” is the best description of the canon.

Context helps: legal texts often use enumeration to set boundaries. If the law says it applies to cars, buses, and motorcycles, bicycles aren’t included unless they’re expressly mentioned or clearly within a broader applicable term.

Other statements describe different ideas. General terms applying to items of the same class reflect a related but separate principle about how broad wording interacts with specific items, rather than the explicit exclusion principle. Dictionary definitions aren’t the mechanism for statutory interpretation here, and interpreting by purpose when a statute is ambiguous refers to purposive interpretation, not the explicit exclusion that comes from enumerating items.