enable someone to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "enable someone to" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing the act of providing someone with the means or ability to do something. Example: "The training program will enable employees to improve their skills." Alternative expressions include "allow someone to," "empower someone to," and "facilitate someone in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

This article originally appeared on VICE US.

Vice

Every effort should be made to enable someone to take on responsible paid work on release".

The Guardian

It can also enable someone to manipulate another person with great subtlety and finesse.

The New Yorker

Altman devised a play that he hoped would enable someone to get off a decent shot, particularly Taylor.

The New York Times - Sports

Do not include any material (location, name, school name etc) that could enable someone to identify the child.

The Guardian

So a couple of quick questions: Is Ms. Stewart concerned that "Wicked Plants" might enable someone to commit a crime?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

I remember the good times when enabling someone to rediscover a lost skill; calming someone on the verge of self-harming; building confidence with people who had none.

The Guardian

Dating back centuries to English common law, the defense enabled someone to be found innocent if a crime had been committed to avoid a greater harm.

The New Yorker

The apparent motive for the fraud was to cause shares of Emulex to fall, enabling someone to profit by buying put options or selling the stock short.

The New York Times

The apparent motive for the fraud was to cause Emulex's stock to plunge, enabling someone to profit by buying put options or selling the stock short.

The New York Times

"To date, there is no known vulnerability that enables someone to take a consumer phone and gain root access while preserving any Wallet information such as the PIN.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "enable someone to" when you want to emphasize the provision of means, resources, or opportunities that make an action possible. For instance, "The new software will "enable someone to" analyze data more efficiently."

Common error

Avoid using "enable someone to" when simply describing permission. "Enable" implies providing capacity, not just consent. For example, instead of "The manager "enabled" the employee to leave early", consider "The manager allowed the employee to leave early."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enable someone to" functions as a verb phrase that indicates facilitating or empowering an individual to perform a specific action. It highlights the act of providing the means, opportunity, or authority for someone to achieve something. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples that showcase this function in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

27%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "enable someone to" is a versatile phrase used to describe the act of equipping or empowering someone to achieve a specific action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across diverse contexts, including news, academic writing, and scientific discourse. While subtle alternatives like "allow", "permit", and "empower" exist, understanding the nuances helps select the most appropriate term. By following best practices and avoiding common errors, you can effectively use the phrase to convey the intended meaning. This phrase is most commonly found in News & Media, Academia, and Science contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allow someone to

Focuses on granting permission or opportunity.

permit someone to

Implies formal authorization or consent.

empower someone to

Suggests giving someone the authority or capacity to do something.

authorize someone to

Highlights the formal granting of power or right.

facilitate someone's ability to

Emphasizes making it easier for someone to do something.

equip someone to

Focuses on providing the necessary resources or skills.

make it possible for someone to

Highlights the removal of obstacles.

give someone the means to

Stresses providing the necessary resources.

open the door for someone to

Suggests creating an opportunity.

clear the way for someone to

Implies removing obstacles to make something easier.

FAQs

How can I use "enable someone to" in a sentence?

Use "enable someone to" when you want to convey the idea of providing the means or opportunity for someone to do something. For example: "The new policy will "enable someone to" work from home."

What are some alternatives to "enable someone to"?

You can use alternatives like "allow someone to", "permit someone to", or "empower someone to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "enable for someone to"?

No, the correct form is "enable someone to". The preposition 'for' is not needed and makes the phrase grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "enable someone to" and "allow someone to"?

"Enable someone to" implies providing the means or capability, while "allow someone to" simply means giving permission. Enabling involves more than just permitting; it involves making something possible.