Aloud or Allowed?

by Craig Shrives

Aloud or Allowed?

What is the difference between "aloud" and "allowed"?
  • "Aloud" means out loud or audibly. For example:
    • Say your name aloud.
  • "Allowed" means permitted. For example:
    • Is swimming allowed.
aloud or allowed difference
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More about "Aloud" and "Allowed"

The words "aloud" and "allowed" sound similar, but their meanings are quite different.

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.
  • The public are not keen on lip-syncing; therefore, medal hopefuls must all learn to sing the national anthem aloud.

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.
  • I am not aloud to go to the party on Saturday.
    • (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.
  • LOL means Laugh Out Loudly.
Read more about LOL than you'll ever need to know.
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.

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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? tenant or tenet? who's or whose? What are adverbs? What are verbs? List of easily confused words