allowances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "allowances" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you refer to a sum of money given regularly, typically to children, or to allowances made for certain conditions or circumstances. Example: "The company provides allowances for travel expenses to its employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The prosecution claimed that Mote submitted numerous false claims for parliamentary assistance allowances for payment for work that organisations had carried out on his behalf.

The Guardian

Similar handouts, which have become known in the City as "allowances", will be given to about 1,000 staff at Barclays and some 75 bankers at Lloyds.

The Guardian - Business

The Conservatives refused to detail where the cuts would be made during the election campaign, but the IFS said child benefit and disability allowances would inevitably have to be looked at.

The Guardian - Business

The EU bonus cap, introduced at the start of 2014, has resulted in banks devising controversial allowances to prevent their top bankers losing out, handed out in addition to regular pay and bonuses.

The Guardian - Business

Although the cap, together with much more generous capital allowances, does not apply until 2016, councils are being urged to encourage people to get assessments this year to avoid lengthy queues next spring.

The Guardian

Glaring anomalies caused by the removal of child benefit for higher-rate taxpayers remain – with the addition of a complicated system of calculation – and the freeze on personal allowances for the elderly is surely regressive.

The Guardian - Opinion

In 2009, 27 staff got over €55,000 between them in bonuses while in 2010 another 52 staff getting what is known as "seniority allowances" worth over €115,000.

The Guardian - Business

Indeed the pressure became so intense over the past 72 hours that the government was forced into an embarrassing U-turn over plans to cut allowances for younger disabled people in the republic.

The Guardian

But, along with the new finance director, Tushar Morzaria, who received £1m of shares, he will have to wait until shareholders have voted on the allowances next month.

The Guardian - Business

"What we have done is not remove it altogether, but to put a reasonable $5,000 cap on meal and entertainment allowances which again I think gets the balance right," Frydenberg told ABC TV.

The Guardian

Rent allowances worth €150 a month would be made available to 30,000 families.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about financial compensation, clearly specify the type of "allowances" being discussed (e.g., housing allowances, travel allowances) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Be mindful of the singular vs. plural form. "Allowance" refers to a single instance or type, while "allowances" refers to multiple instances or a general system of providing them.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "allowances" is as a plural noun. It refers to multiple instances of an amount of something, like money or resources, given regularly for a particular need or purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "allowances" is a versatile plural noun frequently employed to denote sums of money or resources designated for specific purposes. Ludwig AI affirms its proper usage across varied contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Formal & Business settings. To ensure clarity, it's essential to specify the type of allowance being discussed and differentiate between the singular "allowance" and plural "allowances". Alternative terms like "stipends" or "allocations" may be suitable depending on the specific context. The term is generally neutral in register but can become more formal in specific professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allocations

Highlights the act of distributing or setting aside resources for a specific purpose.

stipends

Refers to a fixed regular payment, typically as a salary or allowance.

provisions

Suggests measures taken in advance to deal with a need or contingency.

benefits

Emphasizes the advantages or payments received in addition to a salary.

entitlements

Indicates a legal or moral right to receive certain benefits or payments.

subsidies

Implies financial assistance provided to support a particular activity or entity.

grants

Focuses on a sum of money given by a government or other organization for a particular purpose.

compensations

Specifically refers to something, typically money, awarded to someone as a recompense for loss, injury, or suffering.

perks

Implies advantages or benefits arising from a particular job or situation.

emoluments

Formal term referring to salary, fees, or profits from employment or office.

FAQs

How can I use "allowances" in a sentence?

You can use "allowances" to refer to sums of money allocated for specific purposes, such as "travel allowances" or "housing allowances". For example, "The company provides generous travel allowances to its employees".

What is a suitable alternative to "allowances"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "allowances" could include "stipends", "benefits", or "allocations".

What is the difference between "allowance" and "allowances"?

"Allowance" is the singular form, referring to a single instance, while "allowances" is the plural form, referring to multiple instances or a system of providing financial support or resources.

Are "benefits" and "allowances" interchangeable?

While both terms relate to compensation, "benefits" typically include non-monetary advantages like health insurance, while "allowances" usually refer to specific sums of money allocated for particular expenses.