impede access

USAGE SUMMARY

'impede access' is both correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that makes it difficult to enter, gain access, or approach something. Example: The locked gate outside the building was designed to impede access.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

China is threatening to impede access to the sea-lanes off its coast.

The New Yorker

The government's proposed closure of magistrates and county courts will further seriously impede access to justice.

The Guardian

But we stepped back and concluded that it's far more important that we do nothing to impede access to care.

The New York Times

QUESTION FROM NITO: What do you think of the Court's decision to impede access to the Court's building through the very famous steps?

The New Yorker

In 2008, the F.C.C. decided that Comcast had broken its rules, and it ordered the company not to impede access to BitTorrent and other such services.

The New York Times - Magazine

Upwardly mobile Mexican-Americans have been reluctant to call attention to a heritage that could impede access to the middle class.

The New York Times

He said the fences did not impede access to the water, but were to deter thieves, a constant problem for shrimp farms.

The New York Times

Now, Grayling was introducing a change that would do "incredible damage to the legal heritage because it will impede access to justice".

The Guardian

Making it harder for undocumented parents to obtain health care for themselves may impede access to care for their children, four million of whom are American citizens.

The New York Times

In reality, we also ration care, not through waiting lists but through high prices that impede access for those with no or limited insurance.

The New York Times

He also noted that the deal helped companies, "As we've now shown that regulation need not impede access to the international financial markets and foreign capital".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about policies or regulations, use "impede access" to highlight how these measures negatively affect people's ability to obtain essential services or resources.

Common error

Avoid using "impede access" when describing purely physical obstructions. For instance, instead of saying "The fallen tree impeded access to the road", consider "blocked" or "obstructed" for greater clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impede access" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "impede" acts as a transitive verb indicating the action of hindering or obstructing, and "access" serves as the direct object. It describes the act of making something difficult to reach or obtain, as supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "impede access" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that means to hinder or obstruct the ability to reach or obtain something. According to Ludwig, this phrase is widely used across various reputable sources, including news media, scientific publications, and formal business communications. When using this phrase, ensure that it appropriately reflects a challenge in reaching or obtaining something, and consider alternative phrases like "limit accessibility" or "obstruct entry" depending on the context. Avoid using "impede access" for purely physical obstructions; more direct terms like "blocked" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limit accessibility

Emphasizes the quality of being accessible, making it less available or easy to reach.

obstruct entry

Focuses specifically on blocking physical entry.

inhibit admittance

A more formal way of saying to prevent someone from being admitted.

hinder entrance

Similar to obstruct entry, but may imply a lesser degree of blockage.

block passage

Highlights the act of preventing movement through a space.

restrict availability

Shifts the focus to limiting the availability of something, not just physical access.

curtail entry

Suggests reducing or restricting entry to something.

prevent approach

Focuses on stopping something from coming near.

slow down attainment

Focuses on making it take longer to achieve something, rather than blocking it entirely.

affect accessibility

A broad term referring to the alteration or influence on the ease with which something can be approached, entered, or used.

FAQs

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

You can use "impede access" to describe actions or factors that make it difficult for someone to reach, enter, or use something. For example, "High costs can impede access to healthcare".

What are some alternatives to "impede access"?

You can use alternatives like "obstruct entry", "limit accessibility", or "restrict availability" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "impede access" or "prevents access"?

"Impede access" is a more formal and nuanced way of saying something hinders access. "Prevents access" is stronger, implying a complete blockage. You can also consider "hinders access", which is a synonym.

What's the difference between "impede access" and "affect accessibility"?

"Impede access" suggests a direct negative impact on the ability to reach something, while "affect accessibility" is broader, indicating any influence (positive or negative) on how easily something can be accessed.