⚡ Quick summary
The words aloud and out loud are both used to refer to something that makes an audible sound. They are mostly used interchangeably, but out loud is often used to emphasize loudness, while aloud often appears in idiomatic expressions.
We often consider our words carefully in our heads before we say them aloud. Or do we say them out loud? Do aloud and out loud mean the same thing, or are we talking nonsense?
In this article, we will explain how aloud and out loud are typically used, explore possible situations where one may be preferred to the other, and provide examples that show how we use aloud and out loud in sentences.
aloud vs. out loud
Both aloud and out loud are used to refer to something that makes an audible sound. In most cases, they are treated as synonyms and can be used interchangeably. However, there are a few cases where one may be preferred.
Because it is shorter and older, aloud may be the preferred word in formal writing, even though both aloud and out loud are widely accepted in all forms of writing. The word aloud is also more common in idiomatic expressions such as read aloud or think aloud. These expressions refer to a person using their voice rather than just thinking thoughts in their head. This sense of aloud is used even when a person is talking quietly to themselves.
By contrast, out loud is often used to emphasize that something was done loudly or with strong emotion. For example, someone might say I can’t believe I said that out loud when they are embarrassed about something they said while angry or distracted. Some verbs, such as laugh and blurt, are more commonly used with out loud than aloud to specifically refer to this usage. For example, the phrase laughing out loud (referring to emitting loud, uncontrollable laughter) is so common that it often appears as the acronym LOL in texting and online spaces. The emotionally charged usage of out loud also appears in the colloquial phrase for crying out loud that is used to express anger or frustration.
Examples of aloud and out loud in a sentence
We’ll give a shout-out to aloud and out loud by showing how we typically use them in sentences.
- The thunder boomed aloud over the valley.
- The bells rang out loud across the kingdom to signal the birth of the princess.
- I always think of witty comments that I am too shy to say aloud.
- We all thought our dad was wrong, but none of us were foolish enough to say that out loud.
Similar words
The word audibly is also used to describe something that is able to be heard.
The words vocally and orally can also specifically refer to someone using their voice rather than just thinking.
Like out loud, words such as loudly, noisily, and deafeningly can be used to emphasize that something caused a loud sound or was done while making a lot of noise.
