Painted red/in red

[vasea1977]

Hi,
"Painted red" or "Painted in red", which is right?
Thank you.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Hi,
"Painted red" or "Painted in red", which is right?
Thank you.

Both are possible depending on context. Do you have a context?

 

[vasea1977]

Hi MikeNewYork
Here is the sentence:
"Prisons are often painted in pink to calm down aggressive inmates."
Thank you.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi MikeNewYork
Here is the sentence:
"Prisons are often painted in pink to calm down aggressive inmates."
Thank you.

So, do you think the sentence is wrong or right?

 

[vasea1977]

I think the sentence is right. What I would like to know is whether we can say the same but without "in" in this sentence.
"Prisons are often painted pink to calm down aggressive inmates.".
Thanks

 

[bhaisahab]

I think the sentence is right. What I would like to know is whether we can say the same but without "in" in this sentence.
"Prisons are often painted pink to calm down aggressive inmates.".
Thanks

Yes, we can.

 

[vasea1977]

Hello Bhaisahab
Could you please let me know if there are any situations when one or the other is not possible. I mean when we cannot say "painted in pink" but need to say "painted pink" instead and vice versa.
thank you.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hello Bhaisahab
Could you please let me know if there are any situations when one or the other is not possible. I mean when we cannot say "painted in pink" but need to say "painted pink" instead and vice versa.
thank you.

I can't think of any.

 

[vasea1977]

So I understand we can use both then "painted in +colour" or "painted+colour". Is this correct?

 

[MikeNewYork]

So I understand we can use both then "painted in +colour" or "painted+colour". Is this correct?

In my view, there are different situations. Imagine that an artist painted the New York City skyline, but used only red paint. We would say that he "painted the skyline in red" not he "painted the skyline red". Another example: The graffiti on the wall was painted in blue. "Painted in X" focuses on the color of the paint being used. "Painted X" refers to the resulting color of the object. In your prison question, either could be used, but I would normally use "painted pink".