Read it to us vs Voice
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Read it to us
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Voice
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Most common: Voice
| Read it to us | Voice | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //riːd ɪt tə ʌs//🇺🇸 //riːd ɪt tə ʌs// | 🇬🇧 /["/vɔɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/vɔɪs/"]/ |
| Meaning | Say or show something for someone to listen to. | The sound you make when you talk or sing. |
| Example | Can you read it to us so everyone understands? | She has a beautiful voice that captivates everyone who hears it. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | read aloud, read together, read from a book | beautiful, fine, good, hear, raise, drop, go up, rise, die away, coach, teacher, lessons, in a/your voice, at the top of your voice, a babble of voices, a hum of voices, critical, dissenting, lone, find, add, lend, voice of, make your voice heard, speak with one voice |
| Antonyms | - | silence, quiet |
| Common mistakes | Incorrectly using 'read' in the past tense when asking someone to do it., Omitting 'it' which can make the phrase unclear., Confusing 'read it to us' with 'tell us about it' which implies different actions. | Confusing 'voice' with 'sound'; 'voice' is specifically human., Using 'voice' as a verb incorrectly; it's primarily a noun., Mixing up 'voice' with 'tone'; they have different meanings. |
| Usage notes | This phrase is often used in casual or classroom settings. It's friendly and appropriate when asking someone to share written information aloud. | Use 'voice' in both formal and informal contexts to refer to speaking or expressing thoughts. Avoid using it for non-human sounds. |
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Frequently asked questions: Read it to us vs Voice
What's the difference between Read it to us and Voice?
Read it to us: Say or show something for someone to listen to. Voice: The sound you make when you talk or sing.
Which is more common: Read it to us and Voice?
Voice is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Read it to us: Can you read it to us so everyone understands? Voice: She has a beautiful voice that captivates everyone who hears it.
Can I use Read it to us and Voice interchangeably?
Not always. Read it to us and Voice are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.