allowing myself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "allowing myself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing permission or acceptance of one's own feelings, actions, or decisions. Example: "I am finally allowing myself to take a break and enjoy some leisure time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Personal Development

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I'm allowing myself to dream.

The Guardian - Sport

So the biggest luxury is allowing myself not to do anything.

Independent

Seeing people are happy with my work for them and allowing myself to appreciate that.

The New York Times

Allowing myself to think this could work out was unusual for me.

The New York Times

Allowing myself to be seduced by fear and insecurity became a self-fulfilling prophecy of sabotage".

Independent

Traditionally, books of fairy stories always have illustrations, so I'm allowing myself one art book here.

The Guardian - Books

"I've been quite disciplined in not allowing myself to go down that road, so we'll see".

The New York Times - Sports

"I don't want to sound dramatic, but I was really allowing myself to feel.

The New York Times - Arts

And starting tomorrow (I'm allowing myself a day), I will get back to work.

The Guardian

I jump from one to the next without allowing myself a moment's rest.

The Guardian

The better I got at allowing myself and others to learn from their mistakes, the better my company became.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "allowing myself" to express self-compassion and acceptance when making decisions that prioritize your well-being or personal growth.

Common error

Avoid using "allowing myself" as a justification for negative behaviors. Ensure that the act of self-permission aligns with your values and long-term goals, rather than serving as an excuse for indulgence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "allowing myself" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as part of a verb phrase to indicate self-permission or acceptance. Ludwig's examples show its usage in expressing personal decisions and emotional states.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Lifestyle

30%

Personal Development

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "allowing myself" is a grammatically sound and common expression used to convey self-permission or acceptance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and Lifestyle content. It's important to use the phrase mindfully, ensuring it aligns with personal values and avoids becoming a justification for harmful behaviors. Consider using alternatives like "permitting myself" or "granting myself" for variety and nuance in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permitting myself

Replaces "allowing" with "permitting", emphasizing formal consent to one's own actions.

giving myself permission

Explicitly states the act of granting oneself the right to do something.

granting myself

Similar to permitting, but implies bestowing a privilege or favor upon oneself.

letting myself

A more informal way of saying "allowing myself", suggesting a release of resistance.

authorizing myself

Conveys a sense of formal approval or sanctioning of one's own behavior.

consenting to my own

A more formal and deliberate expression of agreement to one's own desires or actions.

empowering myself to

Highlights the act of enabling oneself to take a specific action or embrace a feeling.

accepting my need to

Focuses on acknowledging and embracing one's own requirements or desires.

acknowledging my right to

Emphasizes the recognition of one's inherent entitlement to something.

being open to the idea of

Highlights a willingness to consider or explore a particular possibility for oneself.

FAQs

How can I use "allowing myself" in a sentence?

Use "allowing myself" to express giving yourself permission or freedom to do or feel something. For example, "I'm "allowing myself to relax" after a long week".

What can I say instead of "allowing myself"?

You can use alternatives like "permitting myself", "granting myself", or "letting myself" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "allowing myself"?

While generally correct, consider the context. Overusing it can sound repetitive. Ensure it genuinely reflects self-permission or acceptance, not justification for harmful actions. Consider alternatives like "accepting my limitations".

What's the difference between "allowing myself" and "forcing myself"?

"Allowing myself" implies giving permission or freedom to do something, while "forcing myself" suggests compelling oneself to do something against one's will. They are near antonyms and have completely opposite meanings. For example, "I'm "allowing myself to rest"" vs. "I'm forcing myself to work".