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Angliholic Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Read (out) a passage

The author read out a passage from his latest book.

Hi,

Is "out" in the above optional? If not, why not?

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

Hi, I think it's not optional. To my understanding, when you read out a passage, you say the words aloud; when you read a passage, you may or may not utter the words. As always, wait for the natives ...

— Tanit

  • Hi, I think it's not optional.
  • To my understanding, when you read out a passage, you say the words aloud; when you read a passage, you may or may not utter the words.
  • As always, wait for the natives ...
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3 Answers
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Hi,

I think it's not optional. To my understanding, when you read out a passage, you say the words aloud; when you read a passage, you may or may not utter the words.

As always, wait for the natives ...
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I'd prefer to say 'out loud'. He read a passage out loud [aloud] to the audience. Of course, if you mentioned to whom the author read the passage, no 'out' or 'aloud' would be necessary.

There is the second problem: 'read out' can mean to criticize harshly and aloud. My boss really read me out this afternoon because I cam back late from lunch.
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You could "read out" something such as a list of individual items, or a single item on a list, for example, but for a passage or text, I agree it would be far better to use "read out loud" or "read aloud".
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