on mute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on mute" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means that something, such as a device or a person's voice, is silenced or turned off. Example: "Please put your phone on mute during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Technology

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

She proceeds with the ritual blessings, only to realize that Harry is still watching the game -- on mute.

The New York Times - Books

"Please, put it on mute," one of the activists, Zaynah Hindi, recalled saying.

The New York Times

Is the broadcast on mute?

The New York Times

His phone was on mute.

The New Yorker

'Head First' is out on Mute.

Independent

Correction: I had Obama's speech on mute.

The New Yorker

The right's noise machine was on mute.

The New York Times

Delta Machine is out now on Mute.

The Guardian - Music

She had switched on Mute Appeal.

The Guardian - Books

Soundescapes is released on Monday on Mute.

The Guardian - Music

The world will go on mute.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about media consumption, use the phrase to indicate that visual focus is being prioritized over auditory information

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly say "in mute" by analogy with phrases like "in silence". However, "on mute" is the standard idiomatic expression for describing the state of an electronic device's audio toggle.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on mute" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase that acts either as an adverbial or a subject complement. According to Ludwig, it is most frequently used to describe the operational state of a volume control or a microphone.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Technology & Software

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Creative Writing

3%

Scientific Research

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "on mute" is an essential part of modern English, particularly in the digital age. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread adoption across high-authority platforms. It is most frequently used to describe the state of silenced media or microphones, as seen in numerous examples from The New York Times and The Guardian. While technically a prepositional phrase, it functions as a critical status indicator. It is highly recommended to use this specific phrasing rather than alternatives like "in mute", as "on mute" is the established idiom for electronic audio settings. Whether used literally in a business meeting or metaphorically in social commentary, the phrase is a versatile and reliable choice for contemporary writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

muted

Uses the past participle form as an adjective rather than a prepositional phrase

on silent

Commonly refers to phone notification settings rather than active audio streams

with the sound off

A more descriptive, slightly more informal way to indicate volume status

silenced

Implies an active intervention to stop sound from occurring

without audio

A more clinical or technical description of a media state

in silent mode

Refers specifically to the configuration state of a device

turned down

Suggests low volume but not necessarily total silence

audio-disabled

Technically focused, often used in software development or user interfaces

not audible

Describes the auditory result rather than the setting itself

speechless

A metaphorical shift focusing on the person's inability to talk rather than the device

FAQs

How do I use "on mute" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a device or a person's current status, such as "I realized my microphone was "on mute" when I started speaking".

What is the difference between "on mute" and "muted"?

Both are correct and largely interchangeable, but "muted" functions as an adjective, while "on mute" is a prepositional phrase describing a state.

Should I say "on mute" or "on silent"?

Use "on mute" for active audio streams like videos or calls. Use "on silent" for device notification settings like ringtones.

Can I say "put it on mute"?

Yes, this is a very common command. You can also use alternatives like "silence the audio" or "turn off the sound".