The verb ‘output’ is a staple term in fields like computing, engineering, manufacturing, academia, and even daily conversation. Whether discussing software that produces data, machinery that delivers products, or writers generating work, understanding how to use the past tense of ‘output’ correctly is vital for clear and professional communication.
However, many English users find the past tense of ‘output’ confusing. This stems from its unusual status as a verb that accepts two alternative past tense forms—one irregular (output) and one regular (outputted). This inconsistency leads to uncertainty, especially in formal writing or technical documentation where precision matters most.
Mastering the correct past tense forms of ‘output’ ensures clarity, professionalism, and grammatical accuracy. It is particularly crucial for technical writers, programmers, IT professionals, engineers, educators, linguists, and advanced English learners.
This comprehensive article will guide you through:
- Definitions and distinctions of ‘output’ as a verb and noun
- The dual past tense forms and their grammatical structures
- Detailed examples across multiple contexts
- Usage guidelines and common pitfalls
- Practice exercises with answers
- Advanced nuances, historical insights, and corpus data
- A detailed FAQ to clarify lingering doubts
By the end, you will confidently use the past tense of ‘output’ correctly in any context.
Table of Contents
- 3. Definition Section
- 4. Structural Breakdown
- 5. Types or Categories
- 6. Examples Section
- 7. Usage Rules
- 8. Common Mistakes
- 9. Practice Exercises
- 10. Advanced Topics
- 11. FAQ Section
- 12. Conclusion
3. Definition Section
3.1. What Does ‘Output’ Mean?
‘Output’ functions both as a noun and a verb.
- Noun: the information, product, or result produced by a system, person, or process.
- Verb: to produce, provide, or deliver information, data, or material.
Examples as a noun:
- The printer’s output was 50 pages per minute.
- The factory’s output increased last year.
- The researcher analyzed the output from the experiment.
Examples as a verb:
- The computer will output the results in seconds.
- The machine outputs finished components daily.
- The device can output audio and video signals.
In computing and technology, ‘output’ commonly means the data or signals sent out by a device or program. In manufacturing, it refers to the goods produced. In written or artistic work, it can mean the amount of work a person produces.
3.2. Grammatical Classification of ‘Output’ as a Verb
As a verb, ‘output’ is transitive, meaning it requires a direct object (something that is output).
Base form: output
It is also considered an ambiguous verb because it allows both a regular -ed past tense and an unchanged irregular form.
Example: The program output/outputted the data yesterday.
3.3. Past Tense of ‘Output’: An Overview
Uniquely, ‘output’ has two accepted past tense and past participle forms:
- Irregular: output (unchanged, like ‘cut’)
- Regular: outputted (adding -ed)
This duality arises from the word’s relatively recent adoption as a verb derived from a noun, leading to flexible formation.
Historical trends: The irregular ‘output’ is generally preferred in technical and scientific writing, while ‘outputted’ appears more often in general English or informal contexts. Both British and American English allow both forms, with slight preferences regionally.
| Base Form | Simple Past | Past Participle | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| output | output / outputted | output / outputted | The program output/outputted the results. |
4. Structural Breakdown
4.1. Regular vs. Irregular Verbs Refresher
Regular verbs form their past tense and past participle by adding -ed to the base form.
Examples:
- work → worked
- play → played
- call → called
Irregular verbs have unique or unchanged past tense and participle forms that do not follow the -ed pattern.
Examples:
- cut → cut
- put → put
- go → went
- run → ran
‘Output’ is a special case because both forms are accepted, making it hybrid or ambiguous.
4.2. Past Simple Formation with ‘Output’
For past simple tense, you can use either:
- Irregular (unchanged): The device output the signal.
- Regular (-ed added): The device outputted the signal.
Compare with similar verbs:
| Base Verb | Past Simple (Irregular) | Past Simple (Regular) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| put | put | *putted (incorrect) | Always irregular |
| cut | cut | *cutted (incorrect) | Always irregular |
| output | output | outputted | Both accepted; context matters |
4.3. Past Participle Formation
The past participle is used with perfect tenses (have/has/had) and in passive voice.
For ‘output,’ both forms are again acceptable:
- The system has output the results.
- The system has outputted the results.
4.4. Pronunciation Differences
Irregular form (base and past):
- /ˈaʊtpʊt/
- Sounds like “OUT-put”
Regular form ‘outputted’:
- /ˈaʊtpʊtɪd/
- Sounds like “OUT-put-id”
For listening practice, consider resources such as Forvo pronunciation samples.
5. Types or Categories
5.1. Accepted Forms of Past Tense of ‘Output’
Irregular form:
- Simple past: output
- Past participle: output
- More common in computing, technical fields
Regular form:
- Simple past: outputted
- Past participle: outputted
- More common in general or non-technical contexts
| Form Type | Simple Past | Past Participle | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irregular | output | output | The database output the report last week. |
| Regular | outputted | outputted | The app outputted a warning message. |
5.2. Contextual Preferences
- Technical/Engineering/Programming: Strong preference for ‘output’
- Non-technical, conversational, informal writing: Both forms are acceptable, with ‘outputted’ being more common
Some style guides or company standards may explicitly prefer one over the other. For example, Microsoft’s technical documentation prefers the irregular ‘output’.
6. Examples Section
Below are extensive examples illustrating both forms across contexts, tenses, and structures.
6.1. Examples Using Irregular Form ‘Output’
- Yesterday, the printer output 100 pages.
- The system has output the final report.
- The camera output a blurry image last night.
- The database output all user activity logs.
- The sensor output the voltage readings every second.
- Last month, the factory output 10,000 units.
- The test program output an unexpected error.
- The device output a high-pitched sound during the test.
- The server output the access logs at 2 AM.
- The system output the data successfully.
6.2. Examples Using Regular Form ‘Outputted’
- The program outputted an error message.
- They have outputted the results correctly.
- Our new software outputted better data.
- The app outputted several notifications.
- Yesterday, the player outputted high scores.
- The tool outputted a summary report.
- The website outputted user statistics.
- The printer outputted the cover pages first.
- The system outputted a warning during the update.
- The research team outputted their findings online.
6.3. Comparative Examples Table
| Context | Irregular Form Example | Regular Form Example |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | The server output the logs at midnight. | The server outputted the logs at midnight. |
| Conversational | My app output nothing yesterday. | My app outputted nothing yesterday. |
| IT report | The system output the backup files. | The system outputted the backup files. |
| Daily conversation | Her device output strange sounds. | Her device outputted strange sounds. |
| Programming | The script output the data stream. | The script outputted the data stream. |
6.4. Examples with Different Tenses
- Present perfect: The machine has output/outputted the parts.
- Past continuous: The robot was outputting widgets all day.
- Future perfect: By tomorrow, the device will have output/outputted the data.
- Past perfect: The software had output/outputted the error report before rebooting.
- Conditional perfect: The system would have output/outputted better results with more data.
6.5. Passive Voice Examples
- The data was output/outputted by the system.
- The report has been output/outputted.
- The error message was output/outputted during testing.
- Several graphs were output/outputted by the analysis tool.
- The final code was output/outputted automatically.
7. Usage Rules
7.1. When to Use ‘Output’ vs. ‘Outputted’
- Technical writing, programming, scientific reports: Prefer the irregular form ‘output’.
- General English, informal conversation, non-technical writing: Both forms are acceptable, but ‘outputted’ may sound more natural.
- Always consider your audience, the formality level, and any style guide you follow.
7.2. Consistency Principle
Once you choose a form (‘output’ or ‘outputted’), be consistent within a sentence, paragraph, or entire document. Mixing forms may confuse readers and appear careless.
7.3. Common Contexts
- Programming documentation: Prefer output
- Content writing, blogs: Either form acceptable
- Academic writing: Prefer output unless style guide permits ‘outputted’
- Conversational speech: Either form acceptable
7.4. Special Cases & Exceptions
- Regional differences: No strict rule, but slight preferences may exist (US writers sometimes lean toward ‘outputted’ in informal contexts)
- Institutional preferences: Companies or journals may prescribe one form—always check
7.5. Summary Table of Usage Preferences
| Context/Genre | Preferred Form | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Computer science writing | output | More standard in technical contexts |
| Everyday conversation | outputted | Acceptable, less formal |
| Academic journal articles | output | Check journal style guide |
| Casual blogs | Either | Be consistent throughout |
8. Common Mistakes
8.1. Using Only ‘Outputted’ in Technical Contexts
- Incorrect: The software outputted the file.
- Preferred: The software output the file.
8.2. Inventing Irregular Forms
- Incorrect: The printer outpat the pages.
- Correct: The printer output/outputted the pages.
8.3. Inconsistent Usage Within a Text
Avoid mixing forms randomly:
- Incorrect: The app output the file, and then it outputted a message.
- Better: The app output the file, and then it output a message.
8.4. Confusion with Noun vs. Verb
- Incorrect: The system outputted a output.
- Correct: The system output/outputted an output.
8.5. Incorrect Past Participle in Perfect Tenses
- Incorrect: The device has outputted (if inconsistent with previous ‘output’ usage)
- Correct: The device has output (to maintain consistency)
8.6. Table: Incorrect vs. Correct Examples
| Incorrect Usage | Corrected Version |
|---|---|
| The machine outputted a output. | The machine outputted an output. |
| The system outputted the data yesterday. | The system output the data yesterday. |
| The software has outputted successfully. | The software has output successfully. |
| The report was outputted by the system and then output again. | The report was output by the system and then output again. |
9. Practice Exercises
9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank
- Yesterday, the device __________ the report.
- The software has __________ the final results.
- The tool __________ the data automatically.
- Last week, the program __________ the error logs.
- By tomorrow, the system will have __________ the backup files.
9.2. Choose the Correct Form
- The camera has (output / outputted) high-definition images.
- The server (output / outputted) the logs last night.
- The factory (output / outputted) more than 500 units yesterday.
- The device was (outputting / outputted) strange sounds.
- The app (output / outputted) an alert message.
9.3. Identify Errors
Mark whether the sentence is correct. If incorrect, explain and correct it.
- The system outputted the logs and the files.
- The device output the data successfully.
- The software has outputted the error message.
- The printer outputted a output.
- The database output the report last month.
9.4. Rewrite Sentences Using Both Forms
- Original: The program produces the data.
Rewrite in past: ______________________________ - Original: The device generates signals.
Rewrite in past: ______________________________ - Original: The robot assembles the parts.
Rewrite in past: ______________________________ - Original: The system creates logs.
Rewrite in past: ______________________________ - Original: The tool calculates reports.
Rewrite in past: ______________________________
9.5. Construct Sentences
Use the base verb ‘output’ to create past tense sentences:
- Technical context:
- Non-technical context:
Example answers:
- Technical: The system output the test results yesterday.
- Non-technical: The app outputted funny notifications all day.
9.6. Answer Key Section
9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank Answers:
- output / outputted
- output / outputted
- output / outputted
- output / outputted
- output / outputted
9.2. Choose the Correct Form Answers:
- output
- output
- output
- outputting
- outputted (acceptable); output (preferred in technical)
9.3. Identify Errors:
- Acceptable, but ‘output’ preferred in technical contexts.
- Correct.
- Acceptable, but consider consistency—if using ‘output’ elsewhere, use it here too.
- Incorrect article ‘a’; should be ‘an output’.
- Correct.
9.4. Rewrite Sentences:
- The program output/outputted the data.
- The device output/outputted signals.
- The robot output/outputted the assembled parts.
- The system output/outputted logs.
- The tool output/outputted the reports.
9.5. Constructed sentences:
- Technical: The software output the encrypted data.
- Non-technical: The website outputted funny memes yesterday.
10. Advanced Topics
10.1. Historical Development of ‘Output’ as a Verb
‘Output’ began as a noun (late 19th century) referring to production or results. Its use as a verb emerged later, primarily in computing and engineering, due to zero-derivation (using a noun as a verb without change).
Because it is a relatively recent verb, past tense forms have not fully standardized, leading to acceptance of both ‘output’ and ‘outputted.’
10.2. Corpus Analysis of Usage Frequency
Corpus data from sources like COCA (Corpus of Contemporary American English) and the British National Corpus (BNC) show:
- ‘output’ is more frequent in technical, scientific, and professional writing
- ‘outputted’ appears more in informal or conversational English
- Both forms have increased usage over the past 50 years as computing terms have become common.
| Form | COCA Frequency | BNC Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| output (past) | High | High | Preferred in technical contexts |
| outputted | Moderate | Lower | More informal/general English |
10.3. Dialectal and Register Variation
- British English: Slight preference for irregular ‘output,’ especially formally.
- American English: Both forms common, with ‘outputted’ more tolerated informally.
- Formal register: ‘output’ preferred.
- Informal register: Either form accepted, depending on consistency and clarity.
10.4. Comparison with Similar Verbs
Several other verbs derived from nouns follow a similar dual-pattern:
| Verb | Irregular Past | Regular Past | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| output | output | outputted | Both accepted |
| input | input | inputted | Both accepted |
| broadcast | broadcast | broadcasted | Prefer irregular ‘broadcast’ |
| forecast | forecast | forecasted | Both accepted |
10.5. Register-Sensitive Usage
The choice of form depends heavily on audience and formality.
- Technical manuals, programming guides, academic journals: Use ‘output’
- Casual blogs, everyday conversations, informal writing: Both forms acceptable
- Style guides: APA, Chicago, MLA do not explicitly prescribe, but consistency is emphasized
11. FAQ Section
1. What is the correct past tense of ‘output’?
Both ‘output’ (irregular) and ‘outputted’ (regular) are accepted. In technical contexts, ‘output’ is usually preferred.
2. Is ‘outputted’ a real word?
Yes. ‘Outputted’ is a grammatically valid regular past tense and participle of ‘output.’
3. Which form should I use in technical writing?
Prefer the irregular ‘output’ form for professionalism and clarity.
4. Is ‘output’ an irregular verb?
Yes, when using the unchanged past form ‘output,’ it behaves like an irregular verb such as ‘cut’ or ‘put.’
5. Why are there two past tense forms of ‘output’?
Because ‘output’ was recently converted from a noun, both a regular ‘-ed’ form (‘outputted’) and an irregular unchanged form (‘output’) are accepted.
6. Is one form more formal than the other?
‘Output’ is generally considered more formal, especially in technical writing.
7. Can I use ‘outputted’ in academic papers?
Some journals accept it, but many prefer ‘output.’ Always check the style guide and be consistent.
8. What about the past participle of ‘output’?
Both ‘output’ and ‘outputted’ are valid past participles.
9. Are there other verbs with similar irregularity?
Yes. Examples include ‘input/inputted,’ ‘broadcast/broadcasted,’ ‘forecast/forecasted.’
10. How do I pronounce ‘outputted’?
/ˈaʊtpʊtɪd/ — sounds like “OUT-put-id.”
11. Does American English prefer a certain form?
Not strictly, though ‘outputted’ may be more common in informal US English.
12. Is there a difference between noun and verb ‘output’?
Yes. As a noun, ‘output’ means the result or product.
As a verb, it means to produce or deliver results.
12. Conclusion
‘Output’ is a versatile verb with dual past tense forms: an irregular form ‘output’ and a regular form ‘outputted’. Both are grammatically acceptable, but the choice depends heavily on context, audience, and consistency.
In technical, scientific, or formal writing, the irregular ‘output’ is strongly preferred. In informal or conversational settings, ‘outputted’ sounds natural and is widely accepted.
Maintaining consistent usage throughout your writing is essential for clarity. When in doubt, consult your organization’s style guide or review similar publications.
By practicing with the extensive examples and exercises provided, you will enhance your confidence and precision in using this important verb form.
Remember, mastering such nuances improves your professional communication in today’s data-driven, technical world. For any uncertainties, corpus data and style guides offer valuable guidance.
Continue exploring English grammar to deepen your understanding and elevate your language skills!