disable access

USAGE SUMMARY

"disable access" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It means to restrict or block someone's ability to use or enter something. Example: The teacher disabled access to the internet during the exam to prevent students from cheating.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Disable access to the full text of the allegedly infringing item.

Yale University

In return, service providers agreed to "expeditiously" remove or disable access to sites that copyright holders contend are illegally using their material.

The New York Times

If we do not receive one in a reasonable time period, at our discretion disable access to the full text as described above.

Yale University

Justice John Nicholas handed down his judgment on Thursday afternoon in Sydney, ordering internet service providers to "take reasonable steps to disable access" to Pirate Bay, Torrentz, TorrentHound, IsoHunt and the streaming service SolarMovie within 15 working days.

The Guardian - Tech

This loose interpretation of the "remove, or disable access to" requirement may prove to be its downfall, because the architecture of Megaupload is such that there may be many links to the same file.

University of California, Berkeley

Upon notice of alleged infringement, AGCOM may order the ISPs to selectively remove the infringing digital works, disable access to those works, or automatically redirect the users to a courtesy webpage.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Users can block the photo-accessing bug by simply disabling access to iOS's control center from the lockscreen.

Forbes

He disables access to his email on his phone to avoid work distractions while away.

The Guardian

Schmidt says the hacker "disabled access from the legitimate users, and uploaded a file FOIA.zip to our server.

The Guardian

While Marriott was disabling access to person Wi-Fi, it was able to charge conference organisers and exhibitors anything between $250 £1566) and $1,000 £6266) per access point to use its own Wi-Fi connection.

Independent

Apple Disables Access To iTunes [Gizmodo].

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about digital security, use "disable access" to clearly communicate the action of preventing unauthorized entry or use of systems and data. For example: "Administrators can disable access to sensitive files to prevent data breaches."

Common error

While both phrases restrict entry, "disable access" often implies a temporary or reversible action, while "deny access" suggests a more permanent refusal. Understand the context to choose the appropriate term.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "disable access" functions as a verb phrase, where "disable" acts as a transitive verb taking "access" as its direct object. It describes the action of preventing or restricting entry or use, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

32%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "disable access" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of preventing or restricting entry or use, as supported by Ludwig. It finds frequent application across diverse fields, including academia, news media, and technology, where precision is paramount. While alternatives like "revoke access" or "block access" exist, the specific context should guide the choice of phrasing. Therefore, understanding its function, purpose, and register enables writers to wield this phrase effectively. The frequency of this expression, along with its occurrence in authoritative sources, underscores its importance in contemporary communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

revoke access

This alternative suggests a formal cancellation or withdrawal of previously granted entry or use.

block access

This implies a direct and forceful prevention of entry or use, often in a digital or physical sense.

restrict access

This suggests limiting the conditions under which something can be entered or used.

deny access

This is a straightforward refusal to allow entry or use.

prevent access

This indicates taking measures to ensure access does not occur.

cut off access

This suggests a sudden and complete termination of entry or use.

invalidate access

This implies rendering credentials or permissions as no longer valid.

remove access

This alternative suggests taking away the means or permission to enter or use.

lock out

This suggests preventing someone from entering a system or location.

deactivate access

Suggests a temporary or permanent suspension of access rights.

FAQs

How can I use "disable access" in a sentence?

You can use "disable access" to describe preventing someone from entering or using something, such as "The administrator can disable access to the server for maintenance."

What's the difference between "disable access" and "revoke access"?

"Disable access" generally implies a temporary or immediate halt, while "revoke access" indicates a more formal or permanent removal of permissions.

What can I say instead of "disable access"?

You can use alternatives like "block access", "restrict access", or "deny access" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "disable access" in formal writing?

Yes, "disable access" is suitable for formal writing. It's commonly used in technical documentation, legal agreements, and business communications to clearly convey the action of preventing access.