access prohibited

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "access prohibited" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that entry or use of a particular area, resource, or information is not allowed. Example: "The sign at the entrance clearly states that access prohibited to unauthorized personnel."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But the rollout encountered problems, including students bypassing security measures to access prohibited content.

Huffington Post

But the $1.3 billion project, the largest of its kind in U.S. public education, encountered problems, including students bypassing security measures to access prohibited content.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The paper will include "discussion of a range of possible options on access controls": from general unrestricted sale, through to access in pharmacies, prescription-only access, or prohibited substance status.

Vice

She has largely been held incommunicado, effectively under house arrest, watched by police, without phone or internet access and prohibited from seeing all but a few family members.

The Guardian

To help him prepare, Mr Jang was given access to prohibited South Korean newspapers, television and books.A paper shortage after the economy collapsed in the early 1990s led novels, a form that had been popular under Kim's father, Kim Il Sung, to be replaced by epic poems.

The Economist

The MPA is divided into a C zone, the general reserve, where many activities are permitted, a B zone, the partial reserve where restrictions increase and two A zones, the integral reserve where access is prohibited.

Marine Environmental Research

It also gives a sense of the ongoing nature of the Fukushima crisis by allowing scholars to view the situation in areas where human access is prohibited or restricted, and identifies the areas where return is not yet possible.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

That last one is a doozy: turns out that the Model Business Corporation Act, the template for most States' Corporations Law, says that by-law amendments requiring mandatory proxy access are prohibited.

Huffington Post

Some teams limit the locker room access of their female staff members, some allow male and female employees equal access, and others prohibit access altogether.

The New York Times - Sports

This has caused some landowners to restrict access or prohibit bouldering altogether.

Wikipedia

The military prohibited access to the north to all foreigners without special permits, but a Tamil social worker, whom I will call Siva, agreed to take me through the less guarded back roads of the Vanni.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "access prohibited" to clearly and directly indicate that entry or use of something is not allowed, especially in official or formal contexts such as signage or legal documents.

Common error

Avoid using "access prohibited" when you only intend to restrict certain types of access, not all access. For example, specify "unauthorized access prohibited" instead of simply "access prohibited" if authorized users still require access.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "access prohibited" functions as a directive, clearly indicating that entry or usage is not allowed. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts ranging from physical locations to digital content, underscoring its role as a straightforward restriction notice.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

38%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "access prohibited" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to clearly and directly indicate that entry or use is not allowed. According to Ludwig, this phrase sees frequent use in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. While semantically similar alternatives exist, such as "access forbidden" or "entry forbidden", the choice depends on the desired level of formality and context. Using "access prohibited" helps to clearly set boundaries and prevent unauthorized entry or usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

access forbidden

Replaces "prohibited" with its direct synonym "forbidden".

entry forbidden

Focuses on the act of entering, using "forbidden" instead of "prohibited".

access denied

Emphasizes the action of refusing entry or use.

access is restricted

Emphasizes that restriction is in effect.

access is not allowed

Directly states that accessing is not permitted.

no admittance

A more concise, often signage-related phrase.

off-limits

Uses a single-word adjective to convey the restriction.

entry not permitted

Formally states that entry is disallowed.

restricted area

Highlights the area's status as limited in access.

authorized personnel only

Specifies who is allowed, implying others are not.

FAQs

How can I use "access prohibited" in a sentence?

You can use "access prohibited" to indicate that something is not allowed, as in "The sign clearly stated that "access prohibited" beyond this point".

What is a more formal alternative to "access prohibited"?

A more formal alternative would be "entry is not permitted" or "access is restricted", which are often used in official notices.

What's the difference between "access prohibited" and "access denied"?

"Access prohibited" is a general statement that something is not allowed. "Access denied" implies that someone has actively tried to access something and been refused.

When should I use "access prohibited" instead of "off limits"?

Use "access prohibited" in more formal or official contexts. "Off limits" is generally used in more informal settings.