erase out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "erase out" is not correct English.
To express the same idea, you could use the phrase "erase completely" or simply "erase." For example, "Please erase the drawing completely."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Take a piece of eraser and erase out the outline of the head.

WikiHow

You may want to erase out some of the overlapping lines of these shapes to make the illusion of depth more realistic, as the "petal" (each teardrop shape is an individual petal of the flower) on top covers the part of the petal underneath it, so those lines will be invisible in nature.

WikiHow

But they're still relatively young -- so there are no nudie mags stashed between mattresses, no stealthily-accessed porn sites that someone forgot to erase out of the Internet history, nothing like that.

Huffington Post

Erase out your marker lines.

WikiHow

Erase out the parts of the first layer you don't want to keep, and draw in the new positions for those elements.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Cover a page with charcoal or graphite and draw something on it by erasing out the highlights.

WikiHow

Those early moments could become part of a family's history, or they might be erased, cleared out to make way for those of some other child.

The New York Times

"Between that earth and that sky I felt erased, blotted out," to quote the narrator of Willa Cather's "My Antonia," one of my favorite books.

The New York Times

Jim Burden, who replicates Cather's childhood journey in "My Ántonia" and also goes back East as an adult, feels similarly: "Between that earth and that sky I felt erased, blotted out".

The New Yorker

His memoir, Boy Erased, is out now from Riverhead Books.

Vice

2,600 years are erased, wiped out, as if they never happened.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for the simpler and grammatically correct "erase" when you intend to remove something. It's clearer and avoids potential confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "out" unnecessarily with verbs like "erase". The verb "erase" already implies removal, so adding "out" is redundant and weakens your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "erase out" functions as a verb phrase intended to express the action of removing or obliterating something. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is generally considered grammatically incorrect because the verb "erase" already implies removal.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while you might encounter the phrase "erase out", it's best to avoid it in your writing. According to Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically incorrect due to the redundancy of "out" when used with "erase". Standard alternatives such as simply using "erase", or phrases like "erase completely", provide clearer and more effective communication. Remember that, even if used in informal context, formal context requires the correct word which is erase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

erase completely

Emphasizes the thoroughness of the act of erasing, ensuring nothing remains.

remove entirely

Focuses on the complete removal of something, leaving no trace.

delete permanently

Highlights the irreversible nature of the deletion.

rub off

Implies removal by friction, like erasing something with a rubber.

wipe away

Suggests removing something with a wiping motion.

cross out

Indicates deletion by drawing a line through something.

obliterate entirely

Highlights a forceful removal leading to a completely unreadable or invisible state.

expunge fully

Suggests a formal or legal removal, clearing all records.

cancel completely

Focuses on invalidating or nullifying something, making it void.

efface entirely

Emphasizes the act of making something less clear or noticeable, to the point of being invisible.

FAQs

Is "erase out" grammatically correct?

No, "erase out" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The verb "erase" already implies removal, making "out" redundant. It's better to simply use "erase".

What can I say instead of "erase out"?

You can use alternatives like "erase completely", "remove entirely", or simply "erase" depending on the context.

Why is "erase out" considered incorrect?

The phrase is redundant because "erase" inherently means to remove or obliterate. Adding "out" doesn't add any meaning and is seen as non-standard English.

In what contexts might I encounter "erase out", even if it's not preferred?

While not recommended, you might find "erase out" in informal writing or speech. However, for professional or academic settings, stick to the standard verb "erase".