by allowing

USAGE SUMMARY

'by allowing' is a perfectly acceptable and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to refer to granting permission for something to occur. For example: "The professor's generous offer was accepted by allowing all of the students to take the exam online."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We've increased competition by allowing charter schools.

The New Yorker

What territory have you ceded just by allowing the question?

The Guardian

A few teams generated income by allowing live radio broadcasts.

The New York Times - Sports

They benefited me by allowing me to speak my mind".

The New York Times - Arts

Later, Wikipedia increased transparency even more by allowing online collaboration.

Harvard Business Review

"Michael Gove damages standards by allowing unqualified teachers.

The Guardian

By allowing this access, you have created work for yourself.

The Washington Post

It also provides greater design flexibility by allowing heterogeneous integration.

Journal of Systems Architecture

Previous work is extended by allowing censored data.

Statistical Methodology

Monthly payments were made by allowing AOL to debit automatically the credit cards of class members.

Harvard University

Furthermore, MIMO/CON can boost channel utilization by allowing concurrent transmissions to exceed receive antennas momentarily.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by allowing", ensure the subject performing the action of allowing is clear to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "by allowing" when you mean simply 'allowing' without the causal implication. For example, don't say "By allowing late submissions, students benefit" when you mean "Allowing late submissions benefits students".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by allowing" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a gerund. It modifies a verb or clause by specifying the method or means through which an action is performed or a result is achieved. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and frequently utilized construct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

24%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by allowing" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase that indicates how permission or lack of restriction enables a particular outcome. Ludwig examples show it's prevalence across diverse sources, including News & Media, Academia, and Science. While it carries a neutral register, it is best utilized when illustrating a clear cause-and-effect relationship. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase effectively introduces the means by which a result is achieved, making it a valuable tool for expressing causality in writing. When writing, ensure you are showing what results from the allowance, avoid misunderstanding the scope of allowance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

through permitting

Emphasizes the act of giving permission as the means.

by enabling

Focuses on making something possible or easier.

by authorizing

Highlights the formal approval or sanctioning of an action.

in permitting

A more formal and direct synonym.

by granting

Implies bestowing or conferring a right or privilege.

through facilitating

Focuses on making something easier to achieve.

by giving leave

Emphasizes formal consent or permission.

by sanctioning

Implies official authorization or approval.

by empowering

Focuses on giving someone the power or authority to do something.

through licensing

Highlights giving official permission to perform an action.

FAQs

How to use "by allowing" in a sentence?

"By allowing" is typically used to show how something is made possible or what consequences follow a specific permission. For example: "The company increased productivity "by allowing remote work"".

What can I say instead of "by allowing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "through permitting", "by enabling", or "by granting".

Is it correct to say "allowing" instead of "by allowing"?

It depends on the intended meaning. "Allowing" is a general term for giving permission, while "by allowing" emphasizes how that permission leads to a specific outcome. Consider using the latter when you want to highlight a cause-and-effect relationship.

What's the difference between "by allowing" and "by enabling"?

"By allowing" suggests giving permission for something to happen, whereas "by enabling" suggests providing the means or opportunity for something to happen. "By allowing" focuses on removing a restriction, while "by enabling" focuses on actively facilitating.