allowing him to

USAGE SUMMARY

"allowing him to" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is used to indicate permission or opportunity. For example, "The teacher gave the student an extension, allowing him to finish his project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The ministry backed down, allowing him to stay.

The New Yorker

Allowing him to remain in office beyond Jan.

The Washington Post

School officials ultimately stuck by Maher, allowing him to speak.

The Washington Post

They can continue allowing him to return kicks.

The New York Times - Sports

The Revs, however, aren't allowing him to do that.

The Guardian - Sport

"He thanked me for allowing him to come back.

The New York Times - Sports

That's the confidence that's allowing him to run.

The Guardian - Film

And he faults Times editors for allowing him to do so.

The New York Times

The point was eventually replayed and won by Berdych, allowing him to get back on serve.

The New York Times

Andres Torres took a bad angle on Pastornicky's liner, allowing him to cruise to third.

The New York Times

Scherzer said it had helped his rhythm, allowing him to command four pitches.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "allowing him to" when you want to clearly indicate that someone is being given permission or the opportunity to do something. It's a straightforward way to convey enablement.

Common error

Avoid using "allowing him to" when the action might lead to negative or unintended outcomes. For instance, "allowing him to drive without a license" implies enabling a potentially dangerous situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "allowing him to" functions as a present participle phrase modifying a verb, indicating consequence or enablement. It adds detail about the result of an action. Ludwig examples illustrate this use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Wiki

20%

Sport

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Science

8%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "allowing him to" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that someone is granting permission or creating an opportunity for another individual to act. As confirmed by Ludwig, its grammatical function involves modifying a verb to describe the consequence or enablement resulting from an action. The phrase carries a neutral tone and is commonly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Sport contexts. While alternatives like "enabling him to" or "permitting him to" exist, choosing the most appropriate option depends on the specific context and desired level of formality. Be mindful of potential unintended consequences when using the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enabling him to

Replaces "allowing" with "enabling", emphasizing capability rather than permission.

permitting him to

Substitutes "allowing" with "permitting", highlighting formal authorization.

authorizing him to

Replaces "allowing" with "authorizing", stressing the official endorsement.

giving him leave to

Uses "giving him leave" instead of "allowing", adding a sense of formal consent or permission.

letting him

Simplifies the phrase to "letting him", offering a more casual alternative.

giving him the ability to

Focuses on providing the capacity to do something, rather than direct permission.

granting him permission to

Explicitly states the act of granting permission, emphasizing the authority behind the action.

making it possible for him to

Shifts the focus to the possibility created, rather than the act of allowing.

empowering him to

Replaces "allowing" with "empowering", highlighting the act of giving someone power or control.

facilitating his ability to

Changes the structure to emphasize the facilitation of an ability, rather than direct allowance.

FAQs

How can I use "allowing him to" in a sentence?

You can use "allowing him to" to show that someone is giving permission or enabling someone else to do something. Example: "The teacher extended the deadline, "allowing him to" complete the assignment."

What are some alternatives to "allowing him to"?

Some alternatives include "enabling him to", "permitting him to", or "authorizing him to", depending on the specific context and the level of formality you want to convey.

What's the difference between "allowing him to" and "enabling him to"?

"Allowing him to" generally implies granting permission, while "enabling him to" suggests providing the means or capacity to do something. "Allowing" focuses on removing a barrier, whereas "enabling" focuses on providing resources or skills.

Is "allowing him to" formal or informal?

"Allowing him to" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for highly formal situations, "permitting him to" or "authorizing him to" might be more appropriate.