Use utterance for a specific thing someone says, especially in formal, public, or analytical contexts.
Use utterance for a specific thing someone says, especially in formal, public, or analytical contexts.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She will utterance the warning at noon. | She will utter the warning at noon. |
| Please write your utterance on the form. | Please write your statement on the form. |
| The report has five utterances about costs. | The report has five statements about costs. |
| He made an utterance the password. | He uttered the password. |
Use utterance when the focus is on the act of saying something aloud rather than on the message itself.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| I heard his utterance of hello. | I heard him say hello. |
| The singer's utterance of the note was loud. | The singer's vocalization of the note was loud. |
| Her utterance English improved after practice. | Her pronunciation of English improved after practice. |
| The toddler's utterance was walking now. | The toddler's speech was clearer now. |
Use utterance in linguistics for a real piece of spoken language, which may be shorter or longer than a sentence.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Every utterance must be a complete sentence. | An utterance can be a word, phrase, sentence, or longer turn. |
| The written sentence automatically has three utterances. | The spoken exchange has three utterances. |
| A pause cannot separate two utterances. | A pause can help mark the boundary between utterances. |
| The researcher counted letters as utterances. | The researcher counted spoken turns as utterances. |
Use utterance in this older formal sense for the quality or manner of someone's speech.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| His utterance was too quiet to hear. | His voice was too quiet to hear. |
| She improved her utterance for the presentation. | She improved her delivery for the presentation. |
| The actor's utterance wore a red scarf. | The actor's voice carried across the room. |
| Good utterance means correct spelling. | Good utterance means effective spoken expression. |
Choose utterance for formal statements, speech acts, and linguistic analysis, and prefer simpler words like statement, speech, or voice in everyday prose.
Using utterance as a verb, as in She utterance the word, is incorrect.
From Middle English outreaunce and utterance, formed from the verb utter plus -ance. The older archaic sense meaning the final extremity comes from a separate word related to outer.
What does utterance mean?
Utterance usually means something said, especially a particular spoken statement.
Is utterance a noun or a verb?
Utterance is a noun. The verb is utter.
Can utterance refer to writing?
Utterance can refer to a written or published expression, but it most often points to speech or words treated as speech.
What is an utterance in linguistics?
In linguistics, an utterance is a real stretch of speech analyzed as one unit, not necessarily a complete sentence.
Is an utterance always a sentence?
No. An utterance can be a single word, a phrase, a sentence, or a longer spoken turn.
What is a synonym for utterance?
Common synonyms include statement, remark, speech, expression, and pronouncement.
What is the difference between utterance and utter?
Utterance is the thing said or the act of saying it, while utter is the verb meaning to say something aloud.
Where does utterance come from?
Utterance comes from Middle English forms built from utter and the noun-forming suffix -ance.
When should utterance be avoided?
Avoid utterance when a simpler word such as statement, comment, speech, or voice would sound clearer.