allowed them to escape

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "allowed them to escape" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone or something has given permission or created a situation that enables others to flee or get away. Example: "The guards were distracted, which allowed them to escape from the prison."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

This advantage allowed them to escape with a narrow win.

The New York Times - Sports

The remoteness of some villages may have allowed them to escape the spiralling epidemic.

The Guardian

Others say prostitution allowed them to escape the paycheck-to-paycheck life of the working poor.

The Guardian

He paroled convicted terrorists, or allowed them to escape from prison, even as he cracked down on peaceful protesters.

The New York Times - Magazine

It also may mean that cancers grow in part because normal cells surrounding them allowed them to escape.

The New York Times - Health

Later, another believer, the owner of a state-run travel agency, arranged for the passports and paperwork that allowed them to escape to Hong Kong.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

It allows them to escape, so to speak, and imagine a life with better uniforms.

The New Yorker

Enablers of addicts allow them to escape the consequences of their actions.

The Guardian - Opinion

They can request a waiver allowing them to escape a Title 19 resident.

The New York Times

Do we expect the new dispensation will allow them to escape their categories as well?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The resultant electric field does not stun fish, but stimulates their neuromuscular system, allowing them to escape.

Fisheries Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing how someone or something facilitated an escape, ensure that the subject clearly identifies what or who provided the means or opportunity. For example, "The heavy fog allowed them to escape undetected."

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly specifying what 'allowed' the escape. Do not use the phrase when the escape was due to the escapee's own actions, rather than external factors. For instance, it would be incorrect to say, "Their cunning plans allowed them to escape" if they acted alone; a better phrasing would be, "Their cunning plans enabled them to escape."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "allowed them to escape" functions as a causative expression, indicating that a specific condition or action enabled or facilitated someone's escape. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "allowed them to escape" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to describe situations where conditions or actions facilitated someone's evasion. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts, from news reports to scientific articles. As "aiResponseStatus" indicates, the phrase is deemed grammatically correct. While it appears most frequently in News & Media, it is also present in scientific and encyclopedic sources. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly specify what enabled the escape to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "permitted them to flee" and "enabled their getaway", providing similar meanings with slight variations in formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permitted them to flee

Replaces "allowed" with a more formal synonym "permitted" and "escape" with "flee", emphasizing a swift departure.

facilitated their escape

Replaces "allowed" with "facilitated", highlighting the ease with which they escaped.

assisted in their evasion

Employs "assisted" and "evasion" for a more formal and nuanced expression, implying a deliberate act of avoiding capture.

enabled their getaway

Substitutes "allowed" with "enabled" and uses the noun "getaway" for a more concise expression.

aided their flight

Uses "aided" to replace "allowed" and "flight" for "escape", providing a slightly more formal and literary tone.

made it possible for them to flee

Offers a more descriptive and emphatic alternative, highlighting the possibility of escape.

gave them the opportunity to escape

Focuses on providing an opportunity for escape, changing the sentence structure slightly.

created conditions for their escape

Emphasizes the circumstances that made the escape possible, suggesting a broader context.

provided an escape route

Highlights the existence of a specific route that facilitated the escape.

let them get away

Uses a more informal and direct expression, implying negligence or intentional permission.

FAQs

How can I use "allowed them to escape" in a sentence?

Use "allowed them to escape" to describe a situation or action that facilitated someone's flight or evasion. For example, "The chaos "allowed them to escape" during the riot."

What are some alternatives to "allowed them to escape"?

You can use alternatives like "permitted them to flee", "enabled their getaway", or "facilitated their escape", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "allowed for them to escape"?

No, the correct phrasing is "allowed them to escape". The word "for" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect in this context.

What's the difference between "allowed them to escape" and "helped them escape"?

"Allowed them to escape" implies that something created the conditions or opportunity for escape, while "helped them escape" suggests direct assistance was given. "The open window "allowed them to escape"," but "The guard "helped them escape"" by unlocking the door.