Black Out vs. Blackout – Which is Correct?

While often confused, black out (two words) and blackout (one word) serve distinct grammatical roles. Black out is primarily a phrasal verb meaning to lose consciousness, obscure light, or intentionally censor. Blackout is a noun referring to a sudden loss of power or consciousness, or a period of censorship, and can also function as an adjective. Both forms are correct, but their usage depends entirely on the intended meaning and grammatical function within a sentence.

Black Out or Blackout – Which is Correct?

Both “black out” and “blackout” are grammatically correct and widely used in American English, but they function as different parts of speech, conveying distinct meanings. The core difference lies in their grammatical role: “black out” is a phrasal verb, while “blackout” is predominantly a noun or an adjective. Understanding this distinction is key to using them accurately.

The verb phrase black out describes an action: to lose consciousness, to obscure light, or to intentionally hide information. For example, “The boxer might black out if he takes another hit.” or “They decided to black out the windows.”

The single word blackout, on the other hand, refers to a thing or a state: a power failure, a temporary loss of memory or consciousness, or a period when information is suppressed. For instance, “The city experienced a sudden blackout.” or “He suffered a brief blackout after the fall.”

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

To remember the difference, think about the part of speech you need. If you are describing an action, you need the verb phrase “black out.” If you are referring to a thing or a state, you need the noun “blackout.”

• Action Test: Can you replace the phrase with another verb like “faint” or “obscure”? If so, use black out.
  • “I might black out from the heat.” (I might faint from the heat.)
  • “The curtains black out the sun.” (The curtains obscure the sun.)
• Noun Test: Can you put “a” or “the” in front of it, or can it be made plural? If so, use blackout.
  • “The city experienced a blackout.” (A power failure.)
  • “He had several blackouts yesterday.” (Multiple losses of consciousness.)

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
black out	Phrasal Verb	To lose consciousness; to obscure light; to censor or hide information.	She started to black out after standing up too quickly.
blackout	Noun, Adjective	A period of darkness due to power failure; a temporary loss of consciousness or memory; a suppression of information. (Adj: related to a blackout)	The unexpected blackout plunged the whole neighborhood into darkness.

How to Use Black Out

The phrasal verb “black out” is used when describing an action. It can mean several things depending on the context:

• To lose consciousness: This is perhaps its most common usage. It implies a temporary state of unconsciousness, often due to medical reasons, shock, or injury.
• To obscure light: This refers to covering windows or other light sources to prevent light from entering or escaping, often for security or privacy reasons.
• To censor or suppress information: In this context, it means to intentionally prevent the dissemination of news, broadcast, or other content.
• To forget: Less common, but it can also mean to have a temporary loss of memory regarding a specific event or period.

“Black out” is generally informal but widely accepted in everyday language and medical contexts.

Example 1: After donating blood, he felt dizzy and began to black out.

Example 2: During the war, residents had to black out their windows to hide from enemy planes.

Example 3: The network decided to black out the controversial interview before it aired.

What are the different forms of Black Out?

As a phrasal verb, “black out” conjugates like a regular verb. The “out” part remains consistent, while “black” changes tense.

• Present Tense: black out (I black out easily), blacks out (He blacks out often)
• Present Participle: blacking out (She is blacking out)
• Past Tense: blacked out (He blacked out yesterday)
• Past Participle: blacked out (She has blacked out before)

Etymology of the word Black Out

The phrasal verb “black out” emerged from the combination of the adjective “black” (referring to darkness) and the adverb “out.” Its usage meaning “to obscure light” became prominent during World War I and II, referring to the practice of dimming or covering lights to avoid detection by enemy aircraft. The sense of “losing consciousness” developed later, likely by analogy with the sudden onset of darkness or unconsciousness.

How to Use Blackout

The single word “blackout” functions primarily as a noun and sometimes as an adjective.

• As a Noun:
  • Power Failure: A temporary loss of electrical power over a wide area.
  • Loss of Consciousness/Memory: A temporary period of unconsciousness or amnesia.
  • Censorship/Suppression: A period during which news, information, or broadcast content is intentionally suppressed or prevented from being shown.
  • Complete Darkness: A period or state of complete darkness, often enforced.
• As an Adjective: When used to describe something related to a blackout, e.g., “blackout curtains.”

“Blackout” is a standard term used across various contexts, from news reporting to medical discussions.

Example 1: A major storm caused a widespread blackout across the region.

Example 2: The athlete experienced a brief blackout after hitting his head.

Example 3: There was a media blackout on the controversial negotiations.

What are the different forms of Blackout?

As a noun, “blackout” has a plural form.

• Singular: blackout (one blackout)
• Plural: blackouts (multiple blackouts)

When used as an adjective, it does not change form (e.g., blackout curtains, blackout period).

Etymology of the word Blackout

The noun “blackout” also gained prominence during the early 20th century, particularly in the context of wartime measures where lights were extinguished. It is a compound word formed from “black” and “out,” encapsulating the idea of a complete absence of light. The sense of a power failure or loss of consciousness followed, reflecting the sudden and complete nature of these events.

Related Concepts

Understanding broader grammatical concepts can help clarify the distinction between “black out” and “blackout.”

• Phrasal Verbs: These are combinations of a verb and a preposition or adverb (or both) that, when combined, create a new meaning distinct from the original verb. “Black out” is a classic example, where “black” (verb) + “out” (adverb) takes on meanings like “faint” or “obscure.”
• Compound Nouns: These are nouns made up of two or more words that function as a single unit. “Blackout” is a closed compound noun, where “black” (adjective) + “out” (adverb/noun part) forms a new noun referring to a specific event or state.

Examples from Media and Literature

Observe how “black out” and “blackout” are used in various contexts:

• “The intense pain made her eyes blur, and she feared she would black out at any moment.” – (Describes the action of losing consciousness)
• “Due to the severe weather, the entire eastern seaboard experienced a massive power blackout.” – (Refers to the event of power loss)
• “The government imposed a news blackout on the sensitive negotiations to prevent public panic.” – (Refers to the suppression of information)
• “His doctor warned him that repeated head injuries could cause him to black out more frequently.” – (Describes the action of losing consciousness)
• “She installed heavy blackout curtains to keep her bedroom completely dark during the day.” – (Here, “blackout” acts as an adjective describing the type of curtains)

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. The city prepared for a potential power ____ during the hurricane.
2. He felt lightheaded and began to ____ during the long ceremony.
3. Journalists complained about the strict media ____ surrounding the scandal.
4. If you stand up too fast, you might ____ for a second.
5. The theater used thick ____ fabric to create complete darkness on stage.

Answer Key

1. blackout
2. black out
3. blackout
4. black out
5. blackout

Black Out Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Faint	To lose consciousness for a short time.
Pass out	To become unconscious.
Obscure	To make unclear or difficult to see; to hide.
Censor	To examine and suppress unacceptable parts of something.

Blackout Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Power outage	A period when the power supply is interrupted.
Fainting spell	A brief period of losing consciousness.
Censorship	The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.
Darkness	The absence of light.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Can “black out” ever be used as a noun?
No, “black out” is exclusively a phrasal verb. The noun form is always “blackout” (one word).

Question 2: Are “black out” and “pass out” interchangeable?
In the context of losing consciousness, yes, “black out” and “pass out” are often interchangeable. Both describe a temporary loss of awareness.

Question 3: What are “blackout curtains”?
“Blackout curtains” are curtains specifically designed to block out nearly all light, making a room completely dark. Here, “blackout” functions as an adjective modifying “curtains.”

Conclusion

The distinction between “black out” and “blackout” hinges on their grammatical function: “black out” is a phrasal verb describing an action, while “blackout” is a noun (or sometimes an adjective) referring to a state, an event, or a type of item. Remembering that the two-word form describes an action (like to faint or to obscure) and the one-word form refers to a thing (like a power outage or a loss of consciousness) will help you use them correctly every time.

Pro Tip: Paying close attention to whether you need a verb to describe an action or a noun to name a concept is crucial. Misusing these terms can subtly alter the meaning of your sentences and reflect poorly on your precision in writing.