Quick answer
Aloud means out loud, in a spoken voice: "She read the letter aloud." Allowed means permitted: "Dogs are not allowed on the beach." Aloud has "loud" hidden inside it, which is your hook.
The core difference
Aloud means spoken in an audible voice, while allowed means permitted.
- aloud — in a spoken, audible voice rather than silently: She read the letter aloud to the whole family.
- allowed — permitted or approved: You are allowed one carry-on bag per passenger.
How to tell them apart
The two words sound very alike when spoken, which is why they get swapped in writing. Ask yourself: is someone speaking, or is something permitted? If it is about voice, use aloud; if it is about rules or permission, use allowed.
Memory trick: aloud contains the word loud. Allowed contains "allow", the base verb for giving permission. The mix-up often appears in phrases such as "read it aloud" and "not allowed in".
Frequently asked questions
Is it "read aloud" or "read allowed"?
It is "read aloud". You are reading in a spoken voice, so you need aloud.
Is aloud an adjective or an adverb?
In our dictionary it is an adverb, describing how something is done, as in "think aloud".
What is allowed short for or based on?
It is the past form of the verb allow, and is often used as an adjective meaning permitted.
