enabling

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "enabling" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used as an adjective to describe something that has the power or ability to make something else possible. For example, "The new software gave us powerful enabling capabilities, allowing us to do things we never thought possible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The legislation will include not only the expected snooper's charter, enabling the tracking of everyone's web and social media use, but also moves to strengthen the security services' warranted powers for the bulk interception of the content of communications.

The Guardian

Rooney has impressed during his team's tour of the United States, which finished with a 3-1 victoverover Liverpool in Miami, enabling Van Gaal's side to win the International Champions Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

According to the piece, papers were often read aloud in rural houses in Ireland to family groups, usually by priests or schoolteachers, thus enabling "the illiterate to keep abreast of current affairs".

The Guardian

Hungary and Serbia are also said to have agreed to store large volumes of Russian gas, securing supplies for themselves should a recent Moscow-Kiev-EU agreement on energy provision and payments break down this winter and also enabling Moscow to maintain some supplies to Europe without pumping via Ukraine.

The Guardian

By October, Hagan had procured a new piece of kit enabling him to take pictures and video inside the hospital, but they were not good enough to be used.

The Guardian

The project is aiming to create a Mario who "gets to know his own world" by becoming "aware of himself and his environment", enabling him to make his own decisions based on his curiosity, hunger, happiness and fear, as well as through voice commands delivered by a researcher.

The Guardian - Tech

"That very choice has really impacted the markets, and I believe is enabling these deficits to continue," he says.

The Guardian - Business

Our bill will help Congress and the American people exercise proper oversight, while still enabling us to do everything possible within the bounds of the constitution to protect ourselves from those who would harm us".

The Guardian

Related: The Guardian view on Turkey: growing autocracy threatens a crucial country | Editorial To change the system, the AKP needs a two-thirds, or 367-seat, majority enabling it to rewrite the constitution.

The Guardian

We have been governed for five years by a remarkably successful coalition of Tory and Lib-Dem politicians, moving from a position of deep financial gloom to one of real optimism with nearly full employment and the prospect of growth enabling resources to support institutions such as the NHS.

The Guardian

This scholarship is both an incentive to return children to school and a practical measure, enabling families to survive without their children's wages.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "enabling", ensure that the sentence clearly indicates what is being enabled and what the result or benefit is. For example, "Enabling access to education improves communities."

Common error

Avoid using "enabling" to describe the direct cause of a negative outcome. Instead, focus on how something facilitates a process or action. For instance, rather than saying "The policy enabling the crisis", consider "The policy contributed to the crisis".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "enabling" is a verb form (present participle or gerund) used as an adjective or part of a verb phrase. It describes something that makes an action or process possible. Ludwig confirms this use across numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "enabling" functions primarily as a verb form that acts as an adjective, indicating something that makes a particular outcome or action possible. As Ludwig confirms, the term is grammatically correct and widely used across different contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific domains. While it carries a neutral tone suitable for formal writing, it's crucial to avoid misusing it as a direct cause of negative outcomes. Instead, focus on its role in facilitating processes. Alternatives like "facilitating" or "allowing" may be more appropriate depending on the intended meaning. When incorporating "enabling" in your writing, clarity is key: ensure that the intended outcome is clearly defined. Furthermore, remember to consider whether you are suggesting someone or something that makes a process or action possible, according to Ludwig AI.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

facilitating

Focuses on making a process or action easier.

allowing

Emphasizes granting permission or opportunity.

permitting

Similar to allowing, but often implies formal consent.

empowering

Highlights giving someone the power or authority to do something.

authorizing

Suggests official approval or sanction.

supporting

Implies providing assistance or resources.

aiding

Focuses on providing help or assistance.

assisting

Similar to aiding, but may suggest a more subordinate role.

promoting

Highlights actively encouraging or fostering something.

fostering

Suggests nurturing or cultivating growth or development.

FAQs

How can I use "enabling" in a sentence?

"Enabling" can be used to describe something that makes a certain action or outcome possible. For example, "The new software is "enabling" us to process data more efficiently".

What are some alternatives to using "enabling"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "facilitating", "allowing", or "empowering".

Is it correct to say "enabling for" instead of "enabling"?

While you can say "enabling for", it is often more concise and grammatically sound to simply use "enabling". For example, "enabling economic growth" is preferable to "enabling for economic growth".

What is the difference between "enabling" and "allowing"?

"Enabling" suggests providing the means or capabilities for something to happen, while "allowing" simply means permitting it. "Enabling" is more active and implies providing resources or opportunities, whereas "allowing" is more passive.