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 usVoice
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //riːd ɪt tə ʌs//🇺🇸 //riːd ɪt tə ʌs//🇬🇧 /["/vɔɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/vɔɪs/"]/
MeaningSay or show something for someone to listen to.The sound you make when you talk or sing.
ExampleCan you read it to us so everyone understands?She has a beautiful voice that captivates everyone who hears it.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 5,000 (fairly common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-A2
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsread aloud, read together, read from a bookbeautiful, 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 mistakesIncorrectly 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 notesThis 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.

See it in real clips

Read it to us
Voice

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.

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