rule out vs rule it out

Both 'rule out' and 'rule it out' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Rule out' is used when referring to excluding possibilities or options, while 'rule it out' is used when a specific thing is being excluded. They are not directly comparable as they serve different purposes.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 1161 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"rule out"

It means to exclude or eliminate something as a possibility. It is often used in decision-making processes or problem-solving.

Examples:

After conducting the tests, we can rule out certain medical conditions.
Let's rule out any potential errors before moving forward.
We need to rule out all other options before making a decision.

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Just to rule out anything serious.
On no account, however, should this rule out scientific cooperation with these countries and their research organisations.
Seems to rule out forcible entry.
We shouldn't rule out a racist assault.
We can rule out a clotting issue because she has a bleeding issue.
We can probably rule out Terpsie's bottled water.
It took us all night to rule out any GD experiments as the cause.
It seems to rule out an overt suicide pact.
I think we can rule out lyme.
We can rule out the clinical trial drugs at this point.
But we have to rule out someone taking advantage of her.
We can rule out demonic possession right off the bat.
Let's do a chest x-ray to rule out pneumothorax.
A spinal tap is the only way to rule out meningitis.
However, I can't rule out nitrox poisoning.
Guess we can rule out a quick trip to the store.
I think we can rule out lyme.
So we can rule out bell's.
- So we can rule out bell's.
I thought we should rule out more... emergent... conditions.

Alternatives:

exclude
eliminate
dismiss
discard
remove from consideration

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"rule it out"

It is used when a specific thing or option is being excluded from consideration. The 'it' refers to the specific item or possibility being ruled out.

Examples:

If the car is making that noise, we can rule it out as the source of the problem.
We can rule out the blue paint as a color option for the room.
Let's rule it out and focus on other alternatives.

Show examples from the web [+]

Then we have to find a reason to rule it out.
Dr. Bailey will run some more tests just to rule it out.
I ridicule the appeasing statement by the United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who claims that military action is inconceivable, whereas his boss, Prime Minister Tony Blair, rightly refuses to rule it out.
If this help is necessary - which I think it will be - and if European solidarity needs to be employed once again - and I would not want to rule it out in any way at this point - then Greece needs to make some real changes.
You know, I wouldn't rule it out.
I wouldn't rule it out, but again...
Can't rule it out, Though I'm not an expert on the technology from this era.
Double-hull tankers reduce the risk of oil pollution, but do not rule it out.
I wouldn't rule it out, but nobody in his fiefdom is going to go against him.
Anyone with that level of access would have been thoroughly vetted, but we can't rule it out.
Didn't hear any wheezing, but let's rule it out absolutely.
I'll do a I.P. Just to rule it out, though.
We are against concrete negotiations with this country, but we do not want to rule it out.
We can't make that call yet, but... I wouldn't rule it out.
I can't rule it out, but inside the bullet wound are cotton fibers, so the victim wasn't completely naked when he died.
Don't rule it out so quick.
I think you should go through the communication logs, rule it out.
I wouldn't rule it out as a symptom...
We can't rule it out completely.
Maybe not, but until we rule it out, any place that's considered secured by a metal detector is a wide open target.

Alternatives:

exclude it
eliminate it
dismiss it
discard it
remove it from consideration

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rule out vs rule it out

"rule out"

"rule it out"

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