allow him to keep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "allow him to keep" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when granting permission for someone to retain possession of something. Example: "After considering his request, I decided to allow him to keep the book he borrowed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But these boots will allow him to keep working".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In return, they would allow him to keep the hospital running as he wished.

The New York Times

His share of the prize is €20,000, enough to allow him to keep his apartment.

Independent

But his parents wouldn't allow him to keep a firearm in the house.

The Washington Post

He begs the President to allow him to keep his farm in the ironically named Concession.

The Guardian

The novelist respects the character enough to allow him to keep things to himself.

The Guardian - Books

He persuaded them to allow him to keep operating with the help of financing from an outside bank.

The New York Times

The extent of the injury was not announced until Saturday, in the hope that Lin's knee would respond to treatment and allow him to keep playing.

The New York Times - Sports

On Aug. 5, Mr. Yudof's aides presented Mr. Mulligan with a settlement agreement that would allow him to keep the security deposit and receive an additional $19,759.05.

The New York Times

The change will cost tens of millions of dollars, he complains, and regulators might not allow him to keep the "effective" risk-assessment system he already has.

The Economist

Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican and the former governor of California, successfully petitioned the Austrian government to allow him to keep his citizenship when he became an American.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the level of formality required; "let him keep" might be more appropriate in casual conversation, while "permit him to retain" suits formal writing.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "allow him to keep" implies ownership transfer. It typically means granting temporary or conditional permission to retain possession, not necessarily granting full ownership.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "allow him to keep" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the act of granting permission for someone to retain possession of something. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "allow him to keep" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey permission for someone to retain something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability, with examples spanning across news, academic, and general contexts. While it serves a clear purpose of granting authorization, writers should consider the context to determine if a more formal alternative like "permit him to retain" is appropriate. Common usage errors include assuming full ownership transfer instead of conditional retention. Therefore, clarity and awareness of the specific context are key when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

let him keep

This is a simpler and more informal way of saying "allow him to keep".

grant him permission to keep

This explicitly states that permission is being given.

permit him to retain

This is a more formal alternative that emphasizes the act of granting official permission.

authorize him to retain

Similar to 'permit', this implies official approval for someone to keep something.

consent to his retention of

This implies agreement or acquiescence to someone keeping something.

enable him to maintain

This focuses on providing the means or ability to continue having something.

approve his keeping of

This focuses on the act of approval, rather than the permission itself.

give him leave to keep

This uses 'leave' to mean permission, making it slightly more formal and less common.

sanction his retention of

This is a formal and legalistic way of saying "allow him to keep".

suffer him to keep

This is an archaic alternative, implying reluctant permission.

FAQs

How can I use "allow him to keep" in a sentence?

You can use "allow him to keep" when you want to express that someone is being granted permission to retain something. For example, "The judge decided to allow him to keep his driver's license after completing community service."

What's a more formal way to say "allow him to keep"?

A more formal alternative to "allow him to keep" is "permit him to retain". This phrasing is often used in legal or official contexts.

Is it correct to say "allowing him to keep" instead of "allow him to keep"?

Yes, "allowing him to keep" is grammatically correct, especially when used as part of a longer sentence or clause. For instance, "By allowing him to keep the documents, she risked compromising the investigation."

What's the difference between "allow him to keep" and "enable him to keep"?

"Allow him to keep" means to grant permission, while "enable him to keep" means to provide the means or ability. For example, "The new policy will allow him to keep his job", versus "The flexible schedule will enable him to keep his job while caring for his family."