allow access

USAGE SUMMARY

"allow access" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used in the context of granting someone permission or the ability to enter a particular location or utilize a particular service. For example: "The guard at the gate will not allow access until the necessary credentials have been presented."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the administration refused to allow access.

The Washington Post

They rely on national governments to allow access.

The Guardian

"We're not going to allow access within the boat sheds".

The New York Times - Food

Abide by international law and allow access to these areas".

Independent

One idea is to allow access by everyone to everything.

The Economist

# to only allow access to principals in OTHER.REALM.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Monitors are used to allow access during events.

Yale University

It's very frustrating that the iPhone doesn't allow access to the live video stream".

The Guardian - Tech

Philanthropy can allow access to certain communities, broaden networks and connect influential people with each other.

The Guardian

(Laws in New York and nine other states do not allow access).

The New York Times

But many of the smaller office buildings and larger apartment buildings do allow access.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about digital security, specify what type of access is being "allowed" (e.g., read access, write access, administrative access) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "allow to access". The correct form is "allow access" or "allow someone to have access". For example: "The system allows access to authorized users" is correct, while "The system allows to access authorized users" is incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "allow access" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "allow" is the verb and "access" is the noun acting as the direct object. It describes the act of granting or permitting entry, use, or availability, which is consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment of it being correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

13%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "allow access" is a commonly used and grammatically correct expression that means to grant permission or enable entry. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness. Its prevalence across various domains, including news, academia, and technology, highlights its versatility. When using "allow access", ensure you clarify the type of access being granted and avoid the common error of using "allow to access". Alternatives like "permit entry" or "grant permission" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. The phrase is most often used in news, academic, and wiki contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permit entry

Replaces "allow" with "permit", which has a similar formal connotation.

enable entry

Highlights the act of enabling or facilitating the ability to enter.

grant permission to enter

More explicit, specifying that permission is being given for entry.

provide entry

Focuses on the action of making entry possible.

give admittance

Uses "admittance" as a more formal synonym for access.

authorize entrance

Uses "authorize" to emphasize the official approval of entry.

unlock access

Implies that something was previously locked or restricted.

afford opportunity for entry

Expands the phrase to include the concept of providing an opportunity.

open the way for

A more figurative way of expressing the creation of access.

clear a path for

Emphasizes removing obstacles to create access.

FAQs

How do you use "allow access" in a sentence?

You can use "allow access" to indicate granting permission or enabling entry, such as, "The new policy will "allow access" to the restricted area for authorized personnel."

What is a more formal way to say "allow access"?

A more formal way to say "allow access" is to use phrases like "grant permission" or "authorize entrance".

Is it correct to say "allow to access"?

No, it is not correct to say "allow to access". The correct phrasing is "allow access" or "allow someone to have access". Using "allow to access" is a common grammatical error.

What's the difference between "enable access" and "allow access"?

"Enable access" emphasizes making something technically possible, while "allow access" emphasizes granting permission. For example, a software update might "enable access" to a new feature, but a user account setting would "allow access" to it.