feel free of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feel free of" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "feel free to," which is used to give someone permission to do something. Example: "Please feel free to ask any questions you may have."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

I wanted to feel free of my own anxiety and neuroses.

The Guardian - Music

Walking around the exhibit, you never feel free of Nike's vise.

The New York Times - Sports

Childish woman, he thought, and let himself feel free of her, glad for the escape Pam's call had offered.

The New Yorker

The NBC Regiment claims that unlike Hans Blix, the UN chief weapons inspector, they feel free of political pressure.

The Guardian

Everyone can let down their guard and feel free of any demands to demonstrate sophistication by issuing trenchant analyses of what's in the glass.

The New York Times - Food

Hang here, then, for live updates and analysis from the match, and feel free, of course, to add your own thoughts to the comments section below.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Perhaps outside is one place students and teachers can feel freer of government powers, the curriculum being pretty much nailed down to the floor boards if schools want to flourish in tests and exams.

The Guardian

I never for a moment felt free of that possibility.

The Economist

The major consolation for Jankovic is that she feels free of the physical problems that have dogged her over the last two years, including an ankle injury at the end of last year.

Independent

We thought that gentle Frederick Law Olmsted and megalomaniacal Robert Moses had wrangled the wilderness into those manicured exhibits called parks....We felt free of Nature.

The New Yorker

There were also beautifully naïve cotton blouses with the texture of papery silk, and floating dresses in a black-and-white dot print with a khaki hem that, again, felt free of heavy thought.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for grammatically sound and universally accepted language, replace the phrase "feel free of" with the idiomatic expression "feel free to" to grant permission or offer an invitation. For example, "Feel free to ask questions at any time."

Common error

Avoid the common mistake of using "of" instead of "to" after "feel free" when giving permission or inviting someone to do something. Always use "feel free to" followed by a verb, not "feel free of" followed by a noun. For instance, say "feel free to express your opinion", not "feel free of restrictions".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feel free of" functions as a predicate complementing a subject. Though found in various sources, Ludwig AI points out that it's not considered standard English. It expresses a sense of being liberated from something, but it is often used incorrectly.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "feel free of" is found across various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The correct idiomatic expression to use when granting permission or offering an invitation is "feel free to". Although "feel free of" aims to express a sense of liberation, its non-standard usage makes it less suitable for formal contexts. It's crucial to be aware of this distinction to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy in writing. When aiming for grammatically sound and widely accepted language, replace "feel free of" with "feel free to".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be free from

Indicates an absence of something negative or unwanted. This alternative is more direct and less emotionally charged than the original phrase.

feel liberated from

Emphasizes the sense of being freed from something burdensome. This alternative highlights the positive emotional outcome of being released from a constraint or obligation.

feel discharged from

Indicates being released from a duty or responsibility. This alternative can be used in more formal contexts.

feel excused from

Indicates being released from a duty or obligation. This alternative suggests a formal permission.

be rid of

Implies a removal or disposal of something undesirable. This alternative carries a stronger connotation of wanting to get rid of something.

be absolved of

Indicates being formally forgiven or freed from guilt or blame. This alternative carries a religious or legal connotation.

be exempt from

Suggests being excused from a duty or obligation. This alternative is more formal and legalistic.

feel at liberty to

Emphasizes having the freedom or right to do something, often in a polite or formal context.

not subject to

Indicates that one is not under the control or influence of something. This alternative is formal and often used in legal or official contexts.

don't hesitate to

This indicates permission or encouragement to do something without reservation, which subtly shifts the meaning from liberation to enablement.

FAQs

How to correctly use the phrase "feel free"?

The correct usage is "feel free to" followed by a verb. This construction is used to give permission or make an invitation. For example, "Feel free to use the resources available."

What does "feel free to" mean?

"Feel free to" is an idiomatic expression used to politely give someone permission to do something or to invite them to do something. It means that they are welcome to do it and should not hesitate.

Is it grammatically correct to say "feel free of"?

No, "feel free of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct and accepted form is "feel free to". While you might encounter "feel free of" in some contexts, it's best to avoid it in formal writing.

What are some alternatives to saying "feel free to"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "don't hesitate to", "you are welcome to", "please do", or "you have my permission to". These alternatives convey a similar sense of invitation or permission.