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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
he was disallowed
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "he was disallowed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone was not permitted to do something or was denied access to a particular situation or action. Example: "After reviewing his application, the committee decided that he was disallowed from participating in the event."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Encyclopedias
Wiki
Science
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
When the local council held elections in 1987, Zhirinovsky sought to run as the firm's candidate and as an independent, but he was disallowed by the Communist Party and by Mir, which cited a letter from his previous employer that questioned his ethics.
Encyclopedias
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
The Knicks 16-111) endured another heartbreaking evening, although it was a different type of disappointment than Wednesday's loss to Boston, when Amar'e Stoudemire's potentially winning 3-pointer was disallowed because he released it just after the game clock expired.
News & Media
Just about the only player to have offered anything on the pitch, providing an assist for a Rodrigo goal that was disallowed, he played with dignity and spoke with it too.
News & Media
With a minute of the first half of extra-time remaining, Fowler thought he had scored the winning goal, however it was disallowed as he was offside.
Wiki
He scored the goal that was disallowed.
News & Media
Teddy Sheringham, a halftime substitute for Ole Solskjaer, had the ball in the net in the 50th minute but it was disallowed because he kicked it out of the hands of goalkeeper Helton.
News & Media
He scored the goal that was disallowed". The defeat had a profound effect on Chelsea's own Brazilians, Ramires and David Luiz, who both ended the contest in tears and having to be consoled by team-mates.
News & Media
Lewis, who was arrested in Los Angeles on Monday for suspected drunk driving, won the 100 metres gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics after Canada's Ben Johnson was stripped of the title and his world record of 9.79 seconds was disallowed when he tested positive for steroids.
News & Media
The effort, however, was disallowed because he was offside when Wayne Routledge played the through ball.
News & Media
He told the referee and the goal was disallowed.
News & Media
But VAR confirmed that he was a step offside and the goal was disallowed.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Use "he was disallowed" when you want to clearly state that someone was not permitted to do something, especially when the reason for the disallowance is based on a rule or policy.
Common error
Avoid using "he was disallowed" in very informal conversations; simpler phrases like "he wasn't allowed" might be more appropriate.
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "he was disallowed" functions as a passive construction indicating that someone experienced the action of being disallowed or not permitted. This usage is supported by Ludwig, which confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.
Frequent in
News & Media
48%
Wiki
18%
Encyclopedias
8%
Less common in
Science
16%
Formal & Business
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "he was disallowed" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that someone was not permitted to do something, often due to a rule or policy. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability in writing. While versatile, it is most frequently found in news and media, encyclopedia, and wiki contexts, as shown by Ludwig's examples. For more informal settings, alternatives such as "he wasn't allowed" may be more appropriate. Common reasons for its use revolve around offside, fouls, and other technical reasons that cause the sentence to be grammatically correct.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
he was prohibited
Replaces "disallowed" with "prohibited", indicating a formal ban or restriction.
he was barred
Substitutes "disallowed" with "barred", suggesting exclusion from a place or activity.
he was prevented
Uses "prevented" instead of "disallowed", focusing on the act of stopping someone.
he was forbidden
Replaces "disallowed" with "forbidden", implying a stronger sense of not being allowed.
he was excluded
Uses "excluded" to convey that he was left out or not included.
he was ineligible
Replaces "disallowed" with "ineligible", meaning he did not meet the requirements.
he was disqualified
Substitutes "disallowed" with "disqualified", typically used in the context of competitions or official processes.
he was rejected
Uses "rejected" instead of "disallowed", implying a refusal of his application or attempt.
he was turned down
Replaces "disallowed" with "turned down", a more informal way of saying he was refused.
he was refused
Uses "refused" which focuses on the act of denying access or permission.
FAQs
How can I use "he was disallowed" in a sentence?
You can use "he was disallowed" to indicate that someone was not permitted or allowed to do something. For example, "Because of his previous misconduct, "he was disallowed" from entering the premises".
What are some alternatives to "he was disallowed"?
Alternatives include "he was prohibited", "he was barred", or "he was prevented", depending on the specific context.
Which is correct, "he was disallowed" or "he wasn't allowed"?
Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "he was disallowed" is more formal. "He wasn't allowed" is suitable for informal contexts, while "he was disallowed" is better for formal or official situations.
What's the difference between "he was disallowed" and "he was disqualified"?
"He was disallowed" generally means he was not permitted or allowed to do something. "He was disqualified" specifically means he was removed from a competition or process because he violated rules or didn't meet requirements.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested