allowed to

USAGE SUMMARY

"allowed to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when someone has permission to do something. For example: "I'm allowed to leave work early today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Men were allowed to be cocky.

The New York Times - Sports

Wasn't allowed to board.

Independent

Are they allowed to?

Independent

I'm allowed to lightly exert.

The New York Times

"We're allowed to detain them".

The New York Times

If she is allowed to.

The New York Times

I am not allowed to.

The New Yorker

He's allowed to make outs".

The New York Times

I'm not really allowed to.

The New York Times

She wasn't allowed to date.

The New York Times

I'm allowed to sip it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "allowed to" to clearly indicate that someone has permission or is not prohibited from doing something. Ensure the context makes it clear who is granting the permission or setting the rule.

Common error

Avoid using "allowed to" when "should", "can", or "may" would be more appropriate. "Allowed to" emphasizes permission, while "should" implies obligation, "can" indicates ability, and "may" suggests possibility or polite request.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "allowed to" functions as a modal construction indicating permission or absence of prohibition. It modifies a verb to express that an action is permissible. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples demonstrating its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "allowed to" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate permission or the absence of prohibition. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides ample examples across various sources, predominantly in News & Media. While its register is generally neutral, more formal alternatives like "permitted to" might be preferred in certain contexts. Remember to use "allowed to" when emphasizing permission and consider the subtle differences between it and similar modal verbs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permitted to

Indicates formal permission, similar to "allowed to" but often implies a stricter authorization.

have permission to

Directly states that permission has been granted, similar in meaning but more explicit than "allowed to".

authorized to

Implies official or legal approval, suggesting a higher level of permission than "allowed to".

may

Indicates possibility or permission, often used in more formal contexts than "allowed to".

empowered to

Suggests that someone has been given the authority or power to do something, implying a greater degree of control than simply being "allowed to".

entitled to

Suggests a right or privilege, indicating that someone has a legitimate claim to do something, unlike merely being "allowed to".

given leave to

Implies formal consent or authorization to do something, suggesting a formal process of granting permission.

able to

Focuses on capability or possibility rather than explicit permission, although it can imply implied permission.

can

A more concise and informal way of expressing the ability or permission to do something, although not always interchangeable with "allowed to".

free to

Indicates that there are no restrictions preventing someone from doing something, similar to "allowed to" but focusing on the absence of constraints.

FAQs

How do I use "allowed to" in a sentence?

"Allowed to" indicates permission or lack of prohibition. For example, "I am "allowed to" leave early" means I have permission to leave early.

What can I say instead of "allowed to"?

Alternatives include "permitted to", "authorized to", or "entitled to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "allowed to" and "permitted to"?

While similar, "permitted to" often suggests a more formal or official authorization than "allowed to". The choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

What is the opposite of "allowed to"?

The opposite of "allowed to" could be expressed as "not allowed to", "prohibited from", or "forbidden to", indicating that something is not permitted.