fill in/fill up/fill out

[hlbert03]

Hello everyone,

Please help. Just wanna know what are the in-depth usage of these:

- fill in
- fill up
- fill out

I have read here on this Web site that fill in and fill out are the same. Are they interchangeable?

Thanks in advance.

[Casiopea]

Well, we know they have to do with spacial referencing, so what about?

Vertical
fill up
EX: Don't fill (your stomach) up on sweets - we're going to eat dinner soon.
EX: Could you fill my car up with gas, please?
EX: Fill up my coffee cup, would ya?

Horizontal
fill in and fill out
EX: Please fill in or fill out this form.
EX: Gee, I better cut back on the sweets. I'm starting to fill out (i.e., gain weight).

Hope that helps.

[hlbert03]

What about filling the slot with someting or filling the hole with someting? Should I use fill in or could I use fill out as well?

[RonBee]

You put something in a slot. (You don't fill it.) And, yes, you fill a hole with something. You don't fill it in or out.

[hlbert03]

Thanks.