outside the house

USAGE SUMMARY

"outside the house" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to indicate that someone or something is not located inside a house, or that something is situated outside a house. For example: "The cat was sitting outside the house waiting for her owners to come back."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

From the outside the house is gorgeous.

The New York Times

FROM the outside the house is deceiving.

The New York Times

He lurks outside the house.

The New Yorker

A van outside the house was decimated.

The New York Times

Outside the house, however, there is baseball.

The New York Times

No, trouble started outside the house.

The Guardian

"He rarely went outside the house.

The New York Times

Traffic is audible from outside the house but isn't loud.

The New York Times

"They'll be running around outside the house, chasing men".

The New Yorker

Outside the house, a new pool and hot tub beckon.

The New York Times

They did not comment to reporters gathered outside the house.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing locations or activities, consider whether "outside the house" provides sufficient detail or if a more specific location (e.g., garden, porch) would be more informative.

Common error

Avoid using "outside the house" as a generic descriptor when a more precise location or activity is relevant. For example, instead of saying "The children were playing outside the house", specify "The children were playing in the garden" or "The children were riding their bikes on the street".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outside the house" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It specifies the location where an action takes place or a state exists. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

34%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outside the house" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase for describing locations near a dwelling. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples. While versatile, it's best used with consideration for context; opting for more specific alternatives like "in the garden" or "on the porch" can often enhance clarity. It's best to avoid overuse in a vague manner and to make sure that you are not looking for the expression "out of the house" instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

near the home

Uses a more general term, 'home', instead of 'house'.

by the residence

Uses a more formal term, 'residence', instead of 'house'.

in the yard

Focuses on the specific area immediately surrounding the house.

close to the dwelling

Employs a formal synonym 'dwelling' for house, emphasizing proximity.

around the property

Emphasizes the land and surroundings of the house.

on the porch

Specifies a particular architectural feature connected to the house.

in the garden

Refers specifically to a cultivated area near the house.

at the doorstep

Highlights the immediate entry point to the house.

in front of the building

Describes the location relative to the building's facade.

on the street

Places the action or object on the public road near the house.

FAQs

How can I use "outside the house" in a sentence?

You can use "outside the house" to describe a location or action happening in the area surrounding a house. For example, "The dog was barking "outside the house" all night" or "The children were playing "outside the house"."

What are some alternatives to saying "outside the house"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "in the yard", "on the porch", "near the home", or "around the property" to be more specific than just "outside the house".

Is it correct to say "out of the house" instead of "outside the house"?

While both phrases relate to the house, they have different meanings. "Out of the house" usually implies movement from inside to outside, whereas "outside the house" describes a location or state of being in the area surrounding the house. You might say "She went out of the house" but "She was gardening "outside the house"".

What prepositions can be used with "house" to indicate location?

Common prepositions used with "house" to specify a location include "in" (inside the house), "at" (referring to the house as a destination or general location), "near" (close to the house), "behind" (at the rear of the house), and "outside the house" (in the general area but not inside).