allowed to cough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "allowed to cough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where permission or the act of coughing is being discussed, often in relation to health or social settings. Example: "In the meeting, everyone was allowed to cough if they needed to clear their throat."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Companies are not allowed to cough up.

The Economist

You see, if someone travels around the country breathing airplane air for weeks and weeks on end, shaking the hands of thousands of people in dozens of cities, they are not allowed to cough even once.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Em 3 …for medication purposes, you are even allowed to take cough syrup that has alcohol…so, if such things Allah has allowed, then He is definitely not going to penalise you for this.

BMC Women's Health

The torture is eventually halted and the victim put in an upright position to allow him to cough and vomit (water usually enters the esophagus and stomach) or to revive him if he has become unconscious, after which the torture may be resumed.

Britannica

Rivera said, "They wear hoods, but we're not allowed to wear even bandannas" — she coughed and wiped her eyes — "against gas, against cameras".

The New Yorker

You are not allowed to buy it without a prescription, this cough mixture.

The Guardian

Under California law, children must receive all of their doses of whooping cough vaccine to be allowed to attend school, unless they have a medical reason not to be vaccinated.

Los Angeles Times

Atmospheric pressure sensors (SPC1000, VTI Technologies, Finland) and relative humidity sensors (SHT75, Sensirion, Switzerland) were placed in predetermined areas of potential droplet escape for additional assessment of cough droplets diverted or allowed to flow through barriers.

BMC Public Health

Mr. Benedetto, who instructs paramedics, said he was worried that children with coughs would not be allowed to return to school.

The New York Times

In addition, subjects were given the following instruction: "allow yourself to cough if you need to, and as much as you need to".

Cough

Allow the baby to cough.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "allowed to cough", ensure the context clearly indicates who is granting the permission or what circumstances permit the act of coughing.

Common error

Avoid assuming that silence on the matter implies permission. Explicitly state when someone is "allowed to cough" if the context requires clarity, especially in formal or medical settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "allowed to cough" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating permission or allowance to perform the action of coughing. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically sound and usable in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "allowed to cough" is a grammatically correct verb phrase signifying permission or acceptance of coughing in a given situation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across diverse contexts. While maintaining a neutral register, it appears most frequently in news and media, science, and wiki sources. For alternative expressions, consider "permitted to cough" or "authorized to cough", which offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality. When using this phrase, ensure the context clarifies who grants the permission or what circumstances allow it. Avoid assuming implied permission; be explicit, especially in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permitted to cough

Simple synonym, replacing "allowed" with "permitted" without altering the meaning.

is permitted to cough

Passive form of "permit", emphasizing the recipient of the permission.

authorized to cough

Replaces "allowed" with "authorized", implying a more official permission.

has permission to cough

Rephrases to explicitly state the possession of permission.

may cough

Expresses permission or possibility using the modal verb "may".

given leave to cough

Uses a more formal expression, "given leave", to indicate permission.

free to cough

Implies that there are no restrictions preventing one from coughing.

able to cough

Focuses on the ability to cough rather than explicit permission.

not prohibited from coughing

Expresses permission indirectly by stating the absence of prohibition.

allowed to clear throat

Substitutes "cough" with a more specific action, "clear throat".

FAQs

How can I use "allowed to cough" in a sentence?

You can use "allowed to cough" in sentences like, "During the exam, students were "allowed to cough" if they covered their mouths" or "The doctor said I was "allowed to cough", but should try to suppress it."

What is a more formal way to say "allowed to cough"?

A more formal alternative to "allowed to cough" is "permitted to cough" or "authorized to cough", which implies a more official or regulated permission.

Is it better to say "permitted to cough" or "allowed to cough"?

"Permitted to cough" and "allowed to cough" are largely interchangeable, but "permitted" carries a slightly more formal tone, making it suitable for official contexts.

What does it mean when someone is "allowed to cough"?

When someone is "allowed to cough", it means they have been given permission or it is considered acceptable for them to cough in a particular situation, without facing negative consequences or restrictions.