Aloud or Allowed?

by Craig Shrives

What Is the Difference between "Aloud" and "Allowed"?

"Aloud" and "allowed" are easy to confuse because they sound identical.
  • "Aloud" means out loud or audibly. For example:
    • Say your name aloud. correct tick
  • "Allowed" means permitted. For example:
    • Is swimming allowed. correct tick

More about "Aloud" and "Allowed"

"Aloud" and "allowed" are homonyms. This means they sound the same but have different meanings.
aloud or allowed difference

More about "Aloud"

The adverb "aloud" means out loud or audibly. It refers to sound (almost always speech).

Examples:
  • Please do not read aloud. You're disturbing everyone else in the library. correct tick
  • The public are not keen on lip-syncing; therefore, medal hopefuls must all learn to sing the national anthem aloud. correct tick

More about "Allowed"

"Allowed" is the past tense of the verb "to allow," which means to permit. In other words, "allowed" means the same as "permitted."

Examples:
  • Small amounts of baby formula and breast milk are allowed in the aircraft cabin if a baby or small child is travelling. correct tick
  • I am not aloud to go to the party on Saturday. wrong cross
    • (This should be "allowed.")

Common Terms with "Aloud" and "Allowed"

Common terms with the word "aloud":
  • read aloud
  • think aloud
  • Girls Aloud
Common terms with the word "allowed":
  • allowed amount
  • allowed breaks
  • allowed countries
  • allowed expenses
  • allowed time

Confusing "Aloud" and "Allowed" Is a Howler

Those with English as a second language are more prone to confusing "aloud" and "allowed." A native English speaker confusing these words constitutes a grammatical howler.

"Out Loud" Not "Out Loudly"

The term "out loud" is an adverbial phrase meaning "aloud." The term is not "out loudly." For example:
  • LOL means Laugh Out Loud. correct tick
  • LOL means Laugh Out Loudly. wrong cross
Read more about LOL than you'll ever need to know.

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See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? Ms., Miss, or Mrs? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? bear or bare (witness, the brunt, fruit)? who's or whose? What are adverbs? The top 20 misspelled words List of easily confused words