allowed them to delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "allowed them to delay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing permission or enabling someone to postpone an action or decision. Example: "The new policy allowed them to delay the project deadline until further notice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The old system also allowed them to delay spending money.

The New York Times

Overwhelmingly the reason given was that people didn't want to be old and infirm any longer than they had to be, even if a pill allowed them to delay this inevitability.

The New York Times

That has allowed them to delay network upgrades which would otherwise have boosted Ericsson's and other telecoms-equipment firms' earnings.In this section Toughing it out Doing the wrong thing War and apple pie Magic-carpet ride Friend accepted Beyond the pill That's not all, folks ReprintsSecond, Western firms face competition from two Chinese companies, Huawei and ZTE.

The Economist

Regulators have suggested that such cuts are a near certainty, but say that cool, overcast weather, as well as recent rainfall, have allowed them to delay action.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Employment creates a period of transition for these girls, and allows them to delay marriage and childbearing.

The Guardian

Fed policy makers are next scheduled to meet on Sept. 18, but it is unclear whether markets will remain calm enough in the meantime to allow them to delay any big decisions until that date.

The New York Times

It allows them to delay indefinitely paying taxes on their offshore profits as long as they do not bring them back home as dividends paid to shareholders.

Huffington Post

However, taxpayers can file an automatic extension to file their tax return by April 15 allowing them to delay their filing responsibility until October 15.

Huffington Post

A majority of 60 would have allowed them to override Republican delaying tactics such as filibusters that could wreck Obama's ambitious legislative programme.

The Guardian

Injection of multiple doses of flagellin in Wistar rats allowed them to demonstrate that suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity was observed when enhancement of antibody response occurred, suggesting an inverse relationship between humoral and cell-mediated immune response.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Prior delays had only allowed banks to hold onto their existing portfolios -- they had not allowed them to actively trade them.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "allowed them to delay", ensure the context clearly indicates who granted the permission or created the circumstances for the delay. For instance, "The favorable weather conditions allowed them to delay the harvest."

Common error

Avoid using "allows them to delay" when the subject is plural. The correct form is "allowed them to delay". Ensure the verb tense agrees with the context of the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "allowed them to delay" functions as a verb phrase indicating permission or enablement for postponement. Ludwig examples show its use in news and business contexts. The Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "allowed them to delay" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of granting permission or creating conditions that enable postponement. Ludwig AI confirms this, and the examples illustrate its use in contexts such as news and media, science, and formal business settings. While the phrase appears relatively infrequently, its meaning is clear, and alternative phrases like "permitted them to postpone" or "enabled them to defer" can be used for variety. When using the phrase, ensure correct subject-verb agreement and consider the context to make clear who or what provided the opportunity for the delay.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permitted them to postpone

Replaces "allowed" with "permitted" and "delay" with "postpone", keeping the core meaning intact but changing the specific words used.

enabled them to defer

Substitutes "allowed" with "enabled" and "delay" with "defer", suggesting a slightly stronger sense of facilitating the postponement.

authorized them to delay

Replaces "allowed" with "authorized", implying a formal or official approval for the delay.

gave them the opportunity to postpone

Adds "gave them the opportunity", highlighting that a chance or possibility was provided for delaying.

granted them a delay

Simplifies the structure to focus on the act of granting a delay, rather than allowing an action.

created conditions for them to delay

Focuses on the creation of circumstances that made the delay possible, rather than direct permission.

made it possible for them to postpone

Similar to creating conditions, emphasizing the enablement of postponement through specific actions or changes.

provided them leeway to delay

Suggests a provision of freedom or flexibility to delay, rather than strict permission.

facilitated their delay

Focuses on the act of making the delay easier or more convenient, rather than direct permission.

let them put off

Uses the more informal phrasal verb "put off" instead of "delay", making it suitable for less formal contexts.

FAQs

What does "allowed them to delay" mean?

The phrase "allowed them to delay" means someone or something provided the opportunity or permission for a group of people to postpone an action or decision.

What can I say instead of "allowed them to delay"?

You can use alternatives like "permitted them to postpone", "enabled them to defer", or "gave them the opportunity to postpone" depending on the context.

Is "allowed them delaying" grammatically correct?

No, "allowed them delaying" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "allowed them to delay", using the infinitive form of the verb.

How is "allowed them to delay" different from "made them delay"?

"Allowed them to delay" implies permission or provision of opportunity. "Made them delay" suggests compulsion or force causing the delay. The difference is in the voluntariness of the action.