allow the possibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'allow the possibility' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something might happen. For example, "The new rule will allow the possibility of extending the deadline for completing the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We also allow the possibility of conditional explanations.

Artificial Intelligence

Among these post-phenomena, the loss of a prior significance, while destabilizing, might nevertheless allow the possibility of new meaning.

Columbia University

The cities that work best are those that keep their options open, that allow the possibility of change.

The Guardian - Arts

"Don't allow the possibility for your behaviour to be used against the Russian football union and the Russian team.

The Guardian - Sport

Nor should it allow the possibility of a 2am or 3am finish if all 35 frames are needed.

The Guardian - Sport

A pause followed, just long enough to allow the possibility of suspense as to what the choice would be.

The Economist

Moreover, this approach does not allow the possibility of automated design verification and validation against the design requirements and specifications.

Advanced Engineering Informatics

They also allow the possibility that neural inactivation produces physiological changes that can induce conditioned taste avoidance.

Behavioural Brain Research

In addition, we augment the model to allow the possibility of questions having differential difficulty (cultural saliency).

Journal of Mathematical Psychology

Wormholes are a popular subject because if real they could allow the possibility of time travel since they are shortcuts in space AND time.

Cornell University

These solutions allow the possibility of reducing the likelihood of distorted fail results, while also minimizing the possibility of distorted pass results.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "permit the chance" or "enable the prospect" for stylistic variation and to maintain reader engagement in longer texts.

Common error

While grammatically correct, repeatedly using "allow the possibility" in formal or academic writing can make your text sound repetitive. Opt for more concise alternatives like "permit", "enable", or "facilitate" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "allow the possibility" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun phrase. It indicates that a particular action or condition creates the potential for something to occur. Ludwig shows numerous examples across diverse contexts where this phrase effectively conveys this meaning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

30%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "allow the possibility" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase that indicates a potential outcome or the conceivability of an event. Ludwig's examples showcase its prevalence in scientific, news, and academic contexts. While the phrase is generally suitable for various registers, opting for more concise alternatives might be preferable in formal writing to avoid wordiness. Furthermore, the phrase's communicative function is to introduce or discuss potential outcomes or conditions that make something conceivable. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is well-established and effectively conveys its intended meaning across numerous reliable sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permit the chance

Replaces "allow" with "permit" and "possibility" with "chance", slightly altering the tone but maintaining the core meaning.

enable the prospect

Substitutes "allow" with "enable" and "possibility" with "prospect", implying a stronger sense of empowerment or facilitation.

create the potential

Replaces "allow" with "create" and "possibility" with "potential", emphasizing the act of generating the opportunity.

open up the option

Uses a more idiomatic expression, replacing "allow" with "open up" and "possibility" with "option", suggesting a wider range of choices.

leave open the chance

Emphasizes that the chance is not closed off, rather than actively permitted.

make conceivable the idea

Focuses on making something imaginable or believable.

admit the chance

Indicates acceptance that something might happen.

entertain the option

Suggests considering something as a possibility, without necessarily accepting it.

offer the potential

Highlights the availability of a potential outcome.

present the opportunity

Focuses on the emergence of a chance for something to happen.

FAQs

How can I use "allow the possibility" in a sentence?

You can use "allow the possibility" to indicate that something makes a particular outcome conceivable. For example, "Implementing this new software will "allow the possibility" of increased efficiency".

What phrases are similar to "allow the possibility"?

Similar phrases include "permit the chance", "enable the prospect", or "create the potential". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "allow the possibility" or "make possible"?

"Allow the possibility" emphasizes permission or conceivability, while "make possible" implies actively enabling something. "This change will "allow the possibility" of faster processing" suggests it might happen. "This change will "make possible" faster processing" indicates it will happen.

When should I avoid using "allow the possibility"?

Avoid using "allow the possibility" when a more direct verb like "permit", "enable", or "facilitate" would be more concise and impactful. Overuse can lead to wordiness, particularly in formal writing. For instance, use "The measure permits early parole" instead of "The measure "allow the possibility" of early parole".