allow him to go

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "allow him to go" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when giving permission or expressing the act of permitting someone to leave or proceed. Example: "After much discussion, we decided to allow him to go home early."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But we want adequate compensation to allow him to go.

Independent

"I will not allow him to go back," she said.

The New Yorker

And Atletico will allow him to go as high as possible".

Independent

What he should do is remain quiet, allow him to go down, feet first, and with his arms outstretched.

The New Yorker

He gets on the firetruck with the other men but the captain will not allow him to go along.

The New Yorker

If the striker forced a move away, they could be more willing to allow him to go abroad.

Independent

What if he didn't get accepted at a foreign university, or the government didn't allow him to go?

The New Yorker

Joseph's High School, his mom said, she would allow him to go directly into the National Basketball Association.

The New York Times - Sports

She dressed him up as a girl, didn't allow him to go to school until he was 10.

The Guardian - Music

That would allow him to go to the country in the role he likes best that of victim.But there are risks to this course of action.

The Economist

Mr. Boyland's lawyer, Richard H. Rosenberg, requested that the judge loosen Mr. Boyland's bail restrictions to allow him to go to New Jersey.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of the situation. While generally acceptable, more formal contexts may benefit from alternatives like "authorize his departure".

Common error

Avoid assuming permission is granted without explicit confirmation. Using "allow him to go" implies active consent, so ensure this consent is clearly established to prevent misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "allow him to go" functions as a verb phrase expressing permission or enablement. It indicates that someone has been granted the freedom or authority to proceed or depart, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "allow him to go" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that conveys permission or enablement for someone to leave or proceed. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for a variety of situations. While it's generally acceptable, more formal alternatives may be preferred in professional settings. Ensure clear context to avoid misinterpretations and use this phrase confidently when granting permission is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permit him to leave

Replaces "go" with "leave", emphasizing the act of departing.

let him proceed

Substitutes "go" with "proceed", focusing on allowing continuation.

give him permission to depart

More formal, explicitly states the granting of permission.

authorize his departure

Formal and emphasizes the act of authorizing.

enable him to travel

Focuses on providing the means or opportunity for travel.

grant him leave to go

A more traditional and formal way of expressing permission to leave.

give him the green light to leave

Idiomatic expression indicating approval for departure.

sanction his going

A formal alternative that emphasizes approval or endorsement.

consent to his departure

Formal and emphasizes agreement to the action of leaving.

approve his travel

Focuses on formally approving travel plans.

FAQs

What does "allow him to go" mean?

The phrase "allow him to go" means to give someone permission or the opportunity to leave, proceed, or travel. It indicates that there is no impediment preventing the person from going.

What can I say instead of "allow him to go"?

You can use alternatives such as "permit him to leave", "let him proceed", or "give him permission to depart", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "allow him to going"?

No, "allow him to going" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "allow him to go", where "go" is the base form of the verb following the infinitive marker "to".

When should I use "allow him to go" versus a more formal alternative?

Use "allow him to go" in neutral or informal contexts. In formal or professional settings, consider alternatives like "authorize his departure" or "grant him leave to go" to convey a more official tone.