[Ads-l] "Inside voice" and "outside voice"

[Steven Losie]

The OED does not have entries for "inside voice" or "outside voice" in the
sense of the volume of speaking that is considered appropriate for indoor
versus outdoor conversation.

Merriem-Webster gives 1976 as the year of first use of "inside voice",
while Dictionary.com dates "inside voice" to 1975-80. Here is the earliest
instance of the terms that I could find:

[begin quote]
A number of households we know have benefited greatly from the rules set up
in kindergarten where an "inside voice" and an "outside voice" are insisted
upon.
[end quote]

Source: Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug 1952, Part 2 Page 1, col.5 (ProQuest
Historical Newspapers)
Article title: A Child Can Be Taught to Speak Softly; Your Example Helps,
Too
Author: Marcia Winn

Note that ProQuest gives the page number as "A1", but as written on the
page, it is given as "Part 2 — Page 1".

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