omit

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "omit" is correct and usable in written English.
It is most often used to mean "to leave out or exclude something". For example, "In the revised version of the report, pertinent information was omitted".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was evidently referring to Sunday night - so how could he omit our year-round commitment to Songs Of Praise?

The Guardian

While the IMF's figures are eyewateringly large, they are, if anything, conservative because they are based on low estimates of the costs of climate change from the US government, which tends to omit many of the largest risks.

The Guardian - Opinion

Footitt ended with five for 29 and Derbyshire are so well off for seamers that they could omit Tony Palladino, whose years with Essex are best-remembered for his key role in the spot-fixing conviction of Mervyn Westfield – who made his return to club cricket for Frinton this weekend after his suspension was trimmed.

The Guardian - Sport

As a result, the figures omit all those who have not come forward, have not been diagnosed, are receiving private treatment or are being treated as an outpatient or in the community.

The Guardian - Music

That challenge is figuring out what information we must deliberately omit from our results, following a ruling from the European Union's court of justice.

The Guardian - Opinion

He has taken a hard line towards player discipline, shown by his decision to omit the fast bowler Liam Plunkett from selection for the Hampshire game after he failed to turn up for training, and has a knack for getting the best out of the most unlikely players.

The Guardian - Sport

In many cases, however, the extra paperwork is incomplete as submitted, with a particular tendency to omit basic information about who committed the homicide in question, including whether the killer wore a badge.

The Guardian

At German universities students and lecturers use the polite "Sie" form, never daring to omit the honorific(s).

The Guardian

You chose to omit this caption when reprinting the cartoon.

The Economist

Other than a single paragraph item, like this letter, I urge all readers to omit opening paragraphs in future.Jan HarringtonNew York.

The Economist

Tensions that had been running high following a row over Japanese history textbooks that omit reference to the sexual exploitation of local women by Japanese occupation forces rose even further: in South Korea a group of particularly incensed men each cut off a little finger in protest.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, "omit" suggests a deliberate and often justified exclusion. Use it to indicate careful decision-making.

Common error

Avoid using "omit" without specifying what is being left out. This can lead to ambiguity and require readers to guess the missing information.

Linguistic Context

The verb "omit" functions primarily to indicate the intentional exclusion or leaving out of something. It is used to describe a deliberate action to exclude certain information or elements, as shown in Ludwig's examples, suggesting conscious decision-making.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

3%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "omit" is a versatile term that signifies intentional exclusion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and sees prevalent use across diverse contexts. Ranging from formal "News & Media" to "Science", "omit" implies conscious decision-making in leaving something out. While replacements like "leave out" or "exclude" exist, "omit" holds a formal tone, which is critical for precision and clarity in writing. When using "omit", clearly stating the omission helps evade ambiguity and contributes to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

leave out

Focuses on the act of excluding something during selection or inclusion.

exclude

Implies a deliberate act of preventing something from being included or considered.

exclude from

Adds prepositions that specify from where the omission is being applied.

leave off

Indicates the act of stopping or discontinuing including something.

skip

Suggests a quicker, less formal omission, often temporary.

pass over

Means to disregard or ignore something, often implying a missed opportunity or intentional oversight.

overlook

Suggests failing to notice something, often due to negligence or haste.

miss out

Implies a loss or disadvantage due to the omission.

cut out

Emphasizes the removal or extraction of something, often physically or graphically.

delete

Specifically refers to the removal of something, especially in a digital context.

FAQs

How to use "omit" in a sentence?

Use "omit" to indicate the act of leaving something out. For example, "The editor decided to omit the controversial paragraph." You can also consider alternatives like "leave out" or "exclude".

What can I say instead of "omit"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "exclude", "leave out", "skip", or "delete".

Is it better to "omit" or "delete" something?

"Omit" generally implies a more thoughtful or strategic decision to leave something out, while "delete" suggests a more direct removal. The choice depends on the context and the reason for the removal.

What is the difference between "omit" and "overlook"?

"Omit" means to intentionally leave something out, while "overlook" means to fail to notice something. "Omit" is a conscious action, while overlook can be accidental.