The difference between outside and outside of?

What's the difference between the word "outside" and "outside of" in usage?

For the sentences below, which one makes more sense?
Are both "outside" and "outside of" acceptable in the following examples?

A) LA has the largest Korean community (outside/outside of) Asia.
B) The campus is located (outside/outside of) Chicago.

A) LA has the largest Koream community outside Asia.
B) The campus is located outside of Chicago.

Sounds good...
Why? no clue.

A) LA has the largest Koream community outside Asia.
B) The campus is located outside of Chicago.

I would probably say the opposite in both instances, but without either one coming up in spontaneous conversation I can't say for sure.

In example B) I think there is a stronger implication that the campus is located right next to Chicago if you say "outside Chicago" than if you say "outside of Chicago". Depending on the context, however, either sentence could mean the campus is "right next to Chicago" or "somewhere other than Chicago".

In example A) I don't think there is any difference in meaning between the two sentences.

I would usually say "outside" with the stress on the second syllable. Perhaps because "Asia" has stress on the first syllable and "Chicago" on the second, it sounds more natural for me to use the "of" with "Asia" and not with "Chicago" to keep an alternating stressed-unstressed rhythm.

Anyway, as to your original question, both sentences make good sense either with or without the "of", and neither sounds strange either way.

The difference is that "outside of" is mainly used in American English.

Yes, Americans will always use 'outside of' or 'inside of', British English speakers are more likely to omit the 'of', although we do use both.

Besides meaning 'outside', in colloquial English 'outside of' can mean 'except for'. My favorite 'outside of' saying is "Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."

>> What's the difference between the word "outside" and "outside of" in usage?

"outside" is Phoenician-origin English.
"outside of" id Greek/GRECOnglish/GC dialect of "outside".

Comparative phonetics
http://voicespec.com/board.cgi?id=test1
http://voicespec.com/

>> What's the difference between the word "outside" and "outside of" in usage?

"outside" is Phoenician-origin English.
"outside of" is Greek/GRECOnglish/GC dialect of "outside".

Comparative phonetics
http://voicespec.com/board.cgi?id=test1
http://voicespec.com/

Absolutely no difference. Either makes sense but 'of' isn't really needed.