Allowable

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "Allowable" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts where you want to indicate that something is permitted or acceptable. Example: "The allowable weight for luggage is 50 pounds." Alternative expressions include "permissible" and "acceptable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ministers insisted the accountancy bills were in relation to their work as MPs and that the claims were allowable as parliamentary expenses.

The Guardian

On his final solve, he had been penalized two seconds because his puzzle had been misaligned by slightly more than the allowable limit.

The Guardian - Tech

Check both your maximum allowable load and tyre pressures.

The Guardian - Travel

In my opinion, this outcome was pre-determined; there was no fairness in the Wells investigation whatsoever," said Yee. "There is no evidence that Tom directed footballs be set at pressures below the allowable limit.

The Guardian - Sport

If your concern is animal welfare, it helps to understand what's allowable under certain labels.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Nikolaos Michaloliakos, Golden Dawn's leader, who is under house arrest after serving the maximum allowable 18 months in pretrial detention, stayed away from the hearing in April and did so again on Friday.

The Guardian

That's an allowable claim.

The Guardian

At the core of an agreement would be cuts in allowable subsidies to farmers and lower tariff ceilings for both agricultural and industrial goods.Mr Lamy's invitation is something of a gamble, but he attaches great importance to reaching agreement in 2008.

The Economist

Surgical programmes came in for a particular pasting, with more than half the pediatric surgery programmes exceeding the maximum allowable hours on duty.

The Economist

Mrs Clinton built the best fund-raising machine of the 20th century persuading Democratic fat cats to make the maximum contributions allowable and accumulating a vast treasure trove of money.

The Economist

By a slim 5-4 majorithethe Supreme Court said the mandate was not permitted by Congress' right to regulate interstate commerce; but by an equally slim majority it said it was allowable under its taxing powers.Perhaps the choice of words made no difference and the decision, as my colleague argues, was not based on a technicality.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "allowable" to describe something that is permitted within a specific set of rules, regulations, or standards. Ensure the context clearly defines the parameters within which something is "allowable".

Common error

Avoid using "allowable" without specifying the context. If the criteria for what is "allowable" are unclear, the statement becomes vague and open to misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "allowable" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that is permitted, acceptable, or within specified limits. Ludwig indicates this is a standard and widely accepted usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "allowable" functions as an adjective to denote something that is permitted or acceptable under specific rules or standards. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, especially within news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When writing, ensure the context clearly defines the scope of what's considered "allowable" to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "permissible" or "acceptable" can be used depending on the specific nuance. By considering these aspects, you can effectively incorporate the word "allowable" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permissible

Indicates something is allowed but might be more formal or legalistic than "allowable".

acceptable

Implies something meets a certain standard or requirement, making it satisfactory.

admissible

Often used in legal contexts, meaning something is valid and can be considered.

legitimate

Suggests something is in accordance with the law or rules, making it valid.

tolerable

Indicates something can be endured or put up with, even if it's not ideal.

authorized

Suggests that something has been officially approved or sanctioned.

sanctioned

Similar to "authorized" but can imply a more formal or official endorsement.

permittable

A less common synonym for "permissible", also meaning allowed.

within bounds

Indicates that something is within acceptable limits or parameters.

not forbidden

A more explicit way of saying something is not prohibited or disallowed.

FAQs

How can I use "allowable" in a sentence?

You can use "allowable" to describe something that is permitted or acceptable within specific rules or guidelines. For example, "The "allowable amount" of carry-on luggage is one bag and one personal item".

What are some alternatives to "allowable"?

Alternatives to "allowable" include "permissible", "acceptable", or "admissible", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "allowable limit"?

Yes, "allowable limit" is a common and correct phrase. It refers to the maximum extent or degree that is permitted or acceptable, as in, "The allowable limit for sugar consumption is 25 grams per day".

What's the difference between "allowable" and "accepted"?

"Allowable" implies permission according to a set of rules or standards, while "accepted" suggests general approval or agreement. Something might be "allowable" but not necessarily "accepted", and vice versa.