outside

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outside" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the external part of a place or to indicate a location that is not indoors. Example: "Let's meet outside the café at noon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

North Korea's state media often boasts of successful military and space accomplishments, including the launch of a functional communications satellite, which are not independently verified by outside experts.

The Guardian

Whichever view you take, multicultural and tolerant or disapproving and fearful, the awkward fact is that we have not been breeding fast enough (or young enough) to keep society functioning without outside help, let alone educating ourselves to the levels a post-industrial economy is going to need.

The Guardian

Since launching its US and Australia digital editions in 2011 and 2013 respectively, traffic from outside of the UK now represents over two-thirds of the Guardian's total digital audience.

The Guardian

Outside on the pavement, they had plentiful supplies of broccoli, potatoes and other vegetables and a supermarket trolley piled high with rucksacks, a couple of guitars and a dog named Zeus.

The Guardian

"THE creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which".

The Economist

Since launching its US and Australia digital editions in 2011 and 2013 respectively, traffic from outside of the UK now represents around two-thirds of the Guardian's total digital audience.

The Guardian

Unfathomable Ruination were in radio contact with organisers on the outside and, happily, the door handle eventually worked.

The Guardian - Arts

Almost all of the sightseers said they had pre-booked flights which they were unable to change; many had resigned themselves to a trip to Washington consisting of shopping and viewing buildings from the outside.

The Guardian

After the final whistle the odd supporter used social media to allege that Carver – whose suddenly relegation-threatened side are now only five points above the bottom three and visit renascent Leicester on Saturday – had sworn at his detractors, before issuing an invitation "outside" for a fight.

The Guardian - Sport

Outside, clubbers dipped their hands in a bucket of chlorinated water before filing in.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

1) A late entry, but a brilliant one, from Massimo Gobbi, who met Jaime Valdés's cross with one of the most perfect outside-of-the-boot volleys you are ever likely to see.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "outside" as a preposition, ensure clarity by specifying what is being excluded or located externally. For example, "outside the box" or "outside the city limits".

Common error

Avoid using "outside" as a direct replacement for "outdoors" in all contexts. "Outside" generally refers to the external part of something or being excluded, while "outdoors" specifically means in open air or nature. For example, say "Let's play outdoors" not "Let's play outside" unless you mean outside a specific building or area.

Linguistic Context

The word "outside" functions as a preposition, adverb, adjective, noun, and even a proper noun in specific contexts. Ludwig AI confirms that "outside" is grammatically correct and versatile, allowing it to modify nouns, describe locations, or act as a noun itself.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Travel

20%

Sport

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outside" is a versatile word functioning as a preposition, adverb, adjective, noun, and proper noun, indicating location, exclusion, or external characteristics. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and our analysis shows its common usage in News & Media, Travel and Sport contexts. When using "outside", ensure clarity by specifying what is being excluded or located externally. Avoid using "outside" as a direct replacement for "outdoors" in all contexts. By understanding its nuances, you can effectively use "outside" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the outside

Emphasizes the position or location relative to an enclosed space.

outdoors

Refers specifically to being in a natural environment or open air, rather than just not inside a building.

exterior

Focuses on the outer surface or appearance of something, especially a building or object.

external

Indicates something coming from or relating to the outside, often in a more abstract or figurative sense.

beyond

Suggests a location or limit that is further away or more distant.

out of doors

An older, slightly more formal way of saying "outdoors".

away from

Highlights the act of moving or being at a distance from a particular place or thing.

excluding

Implies the act of leaving something or someone out of a group or consideration.

apart from

Signifies an exception or something that is not included.

without

Indicates the absence or lack of something, often a resource or condition.

FAQs

How is "outside" used as a preposition?

As a preposition, "outside" indicates a location not within the boundaries of something. For example, "The children were playing outside the house" means they were near, but not inside, the house.

When should I use "outdoors" instead of "outside"?

Use "outdoors" when referring to the open air or natural environment. For instance, say "We enjoy spending time outdoors" rather than "We enjoy spending time outside" to convey being in nature.

What does it mean when someone says "think outside the box"?

"Think outside the box" is an idiom that means to approach problems or ideas in a creative and unconventional way, not limited by traditional thinking or established norms.

Is there a difference between "external" and "outside"?

"External" refers to something coming from or related to the outside, often in a more abstract sense. "Outside" is more literal, referring to the physical exterior or a location not within something. You might say "external factors" are influencing a decision, meaning factors from outside the organization, not necessarily a physical location.