allow to describe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "allow to describe" is not correct in English as it lacks a subject or object.
It can be used in contexts where permission is granted, but it needs to be rephrased for clarity. Example: "I will allow you to describe your experience in detail."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

The results of this investigation allow to describe the microscopic aluminizing mechanisms.

Surface and Coatings Technology

They allow to describe the real contents delivered by several trainers and the behaviours of trainees in the proposed exercises.

European Transport Research Review

The collected data allow to describe and compare both populations in terms of severity of each patient's condition.

Annals of Intensive Care

Simulations allow to describe inside building air flow for three incidences: 0°, 45°, 90° and three theoretical environments: open, suburban and urban.

Energy and Buildings

The last phase is the analysis of the results of the tests, which involves a set of different tasks that basically allow to describe the behavior of the system and help in correcting any observed problem.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

It is based on distance functions which allow to describe multi-input, multi-output production technology without the need to specify a behavioural objective (cost minimisation or profit maximisation).

Triple Helix

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

No writer is allowed to describe Palermo without comparing it to SoHo in Manhattan or deploying the adjective "trendy".

The New York Times - Travel

It is why the commentators are not allowed to describe the paying customers as anything other than patrons.

The Guardian - Sport

Thus a succession of Tory ministers were allowed to describe the global banking crisis as "Labour's recession" and to refer (as Jeremy Hunt did) to the economy contracting.

The Guardian - Opinion

He therefore orders that the court hearing must remain a secret: no one is allowed to describe it, or the claim.

The Guardian

Only in the last decade of his life, in the late 1970s, was he allowed to describe the jump in detail, in articles he wrote for Soviet popular-science magazines.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure correct subject-verb agreement by including a subject. For instance, rephrase "allow to describe" as "These methods allow researchers to describe complex phenomena in detail".

Common error

Avoid using "allow to describe" without explicitly stating what is granting the permission or capability. This omission can lead to unclear or grammatically incorrect sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase, while grammatically suspect, functions to indicate the capability or permission to provide a description. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is frequently encountered but not entirely correct without a subject performing the action of allowing. Ludwig provides examples of how it appears in various sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "allow to describe", while frequently used particularly in scientific and news contexts, is grammatically incomplete and requires a subject to be correct. Ludwig AI indicates that it lacks a subject performing the action of allowing. To improve grammatical accuracy, include a subject performing the action or rephrase using alternatives like "enable description" or "permit describing". Primarily found in formal and scientific settings, ensuring correct usage enhances clarity and credibility in writing. Be mindful of the potential for ambiguity and grammatical errors to maintain clarity and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enable description

Uses "enable" instead of "allow to", creating a more concise phrase.

facilitate description

Employs "facilitate" which suggests making the process of description easier.

permit describing

Replaces "allow to" with "permit", changing the verb form to a gerund.

make it possible to describe

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the possibility of describing.

give the ability to describe

Focuses on granting the ability or capacity to describe something.

provide means to describe

Highlights the provision of resources or methods for description.

offer opportunity to describe

Stresses the provision of a chance or occasion to describe.

create scope to describe

Indicates the creation of a range or extent within which description is possible.

authorize the description

Uses "authorize" to suggest giving official permission for the description.

license for description

Employs "license" implying a formal permission for the description.

FAQs

How to correct the phrase "allow to describe"?

Ensure there is a subject performing the action of allowing. For example, use "These methods "allow researchers to describe"" instead of just "allow to describe".

What are some alternative phrases for "allow to describe"?

Alternatives include phrases like "permit describing", "enable description", or "facilitate description", depending on the context.

Which is grammatically correct: "allow to describe" or "allows to describe"?

Neither is fully correct without a subject. Grammatically improved options would be "allow [someone] to describe", "allows [something] to describe", or rephrasing to use a gerund form like "permitting description".

How does "enable description" differ from "allow to describe"?

"Enable description" is more concise and directly states the capability, while "allow to describe" implies permission or opportunity, but requires grammatical adjustments for correctness.