Say it like this
- Can you comment out that function for now?
- I commented out the old logic until we're sure the new version works.
- Just comment it out — don't delete it yet.
- Let's comment out this section and see if the bug goes away.
- I'd recommend commenting out that code instead of removing it.
Use it at work
Debugging
- Try commenting out the cache call and see if it still fails.
- I commented out the analytics script, and the page loads fine.
In a code review
- Please remove commented-out code instead of leaving it.
- Why is this test commented out?
Temporary fixes
- I've commented out the flaky test for now and opened a ticket.
- Don't commit commented-out code.
Don't say this
You need 'out' to mean 'disable'. Without 'out', it sounds like you wrote a comment about the code.
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. What should you say when you want a teammate to disable some code temporarily?
2. I commented out it before pushing to main.
3. I _______ the failing tests so we could deploy on time.
4. I made the code into a comment so it doesn't run.
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 5
"Can you comment out that function for now?"
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More about comment out
Real examples(7)
- Standup
"I commented out the failing tests so we could deploy yesterday, but I'll fix them today."
- Slack message
"Hey, can you comment out that console.log before merging?"
- GitHub PR
"I've commented out the old API call for now — we can remove it completely once the new endpoint is stable."
- Jira ticket
"As a temporary fix, comment out the validation check until the backend team updates the schema."
- Retrospective
"We had to comment out half the feature because we ran out of time in the sprint."
- Sprint planning
"If we can't finish the caching logic, we'll comment it out and ship without it."
- Pair programming
"Try commenting out that line and see if the error disappears."
More mistakes(2)
- ✕I commented out it.✓I commented it out.
When using a pronoun (it, them), the pronoun goes between the verb and 'out'.
- ✕I will comment out the code out.✓I will comment out the code.
Don't repeat 'out'. Use it only once.
Other forms(5)
- comment out base form
"Let's comment out this function."
- commented out past tense
"I commented out the broken code."
- commenting out present participle
"I'm commenting out the old logic now."
- commented out past participle
"The validation has been commented out."
- uncomment opposite
"Uncomment the debug line before you run it."
Often used with(5)
- comment out a line · Disable one line of code
- comment out a section · Disable a block of multiple lines
- comment out for now · Temporarily disable with intent to revisit
- comment out the old code · Keep previous version inactive but available
- comment out and test · Disable to see if it fixes a problem
Similar words(4)
- disable · More general; can mean turning off features too, not just code
- deactivate · More formal; used for features or settings more than code
- turn off · Casual; usually for features, not specific lines of code
- exclude · Used in build configs; means 'don't include' rather than 'add comment syntax'
Opposites(4)
- uncomment
- enable
- activate
- restore
Questions(9)
- What does "comment out" mean in coding?
- It means disable code by turning it into a comment. In JavaScript you add // at the start of the line; in Python you add #. The code stays in the file but does not run.
- Is it OK to leave commented-out code in a pull request?
- Usually not. Reviewers often ask "can you delete this instead of commenting it out?" because version control already keeps the old code.
- What is the opposite of "comment out"?
- Uncomment. "Uncomment line 12 to turn logging back on" means remove the comment marks so the code runs again.
- What does 'comment out' mean in programming?
- Comment out means to disable code by adding comment syntax (like // or /* */). The code stays in the file but the computer ignores it when running the program.
- Why would you comment out code instead of deleting it?
- Developers comment out code when they might need it later, when debugging to isolate a problem, or when testing different approaches. It's easier to restore commented code than to rewrite deleted code.
- What's the difference between 'comment out' and 'uncomment'?
- Comment out means adding comment syntax to disable code. Uncomment means removing the comment syntax to enable the code again. They are opposite actions.
- Is it bad practice to leave commented-out code in a project?
- Many teams consider leftover commented-out code to be technical debt. It can confuse other developers. Best practice is to remove it once you're sure you don't need it, since version control keeps the history.
- How do you use 'comment out' with pronouns like 'it'?
- When using a pronoun, put it between the verb and 'out': 'comment it out' (correct), not 'comment out it' (incorrect). With a noun, both work: 'comment out the code' or 'comment the code out'.
- Can I say 'comment out' in a code review or standup?
- Yes, 'comment out' is very common in code reviews, pair programming, standups, and Slack messages. It's standard developer vocabulary used daily in tech teams.
