is allowed to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is allowed to be" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used when giving someone permission to do something. For example: "Each student is allowed to be late to class twice during the semester."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She is allowed to be human".

The New York Times - Arts

Only abstinence is allowed to be taught.

Independent

Piñero is allowed to be the author of his fate.

The New York Times

Real life is allowed to be more clunky than fiction.

The Guardian - Books

Dunne is allowed to be bad through and through.

The Guardian - Books

"Fishing is allowed to be dangerous," said one expert.

The Guardian

Not even Mary is allowed to be by her deathbed.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

No one is allowed to be like that any more.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Nothing downbeat is allowed to be said about the war".

The Economist

What is allowed to be accepted political discourse needs to be watched very carefully.

The Guardian - Business

Can you not have one place which is allowed to be like this?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is allowed to be" when you want to clearly state that something or someone has permission to be in a particular state or condition. Ensure that the context makes it clear who is granting the permission.

Common error

Avoid using "is allowed to be" when you actually mean "is supposed to be". "Is allowed to be" indicates permission, while "is supposed to be" indicates expectation or obligation. For example, "The exhibit is allowed to be open until 9 PM" (permission) versus "The exhibit is supposed to be open until 9 PM" (expectation).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is allowed to be" functions as a modal construction expressing permission or authorization. It indicates that a subject has the right or is permitted to exist in a particular state or condition. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

57%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is allowed to be" functions as a modal construction expressing permission or authorization. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, primarily in News & Media and Science. While it's suitable for various registers, it's crucial to differentiate it from "is supposed to be", which indicates expectation rather than permission. Remember, "is allowed to be" explicitly states that something or someone has permission, making it clear who grants that permission in the given context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is permitted to be

Replaces "allowed" with "permitted", a synonym with a similar level of formality.

has permission to be

Rephrases the sentence to explicitly state that permission exists.

is authorized to be

Substitutes "allowed" with "authorized", suggesting official approval or sanction.

is entitled to be

Changes "allowed" to "entitled", indicating a right or privilege.

is able to be

Replaces "allowed" with "able", focusing on capability rather than permission.

is supposed to be

Uses "supposed" instead of "allowed", implying expectation rather than permission.

can be

A shorter and more informal way of saying that something is possible or permitted.

may be

A more formal alternative to "can be", suggesting possibility or permission.

is designed to be

Focuses on the intended purpose or design rather than permission.

is meant to be

Emphasizes the intended outcome or destiny, rather than permission.

FAQs

How can I use "is allowed to be" in a sentence?

Use "is allowed to be" to indicate that something or someone has permission to exist in a certain state or condition. For example, "Each student is allowed to be late twice during the semester."

What can I say instead of "is allowed to be"?

You can use alternatives like "is permitted to be", "is authorized to be", or "is entitled to be" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "is allowed to be" or "is suppose to be"?

"Is allowed to be" is grammatically correct and indicates permission. "Is suppose to be" is incorrect; the correct form for expectation or obligation is "is supposed to be".

What's the difference between "is allowed to be" and "is supposed to be"?

"Is allowed to be" signifies permission, indicating that something is permitted. "Is supposed to be" indicates an expectation or obligation. For example, "The document "is allowed to be" edited by anyone" means anyone has permission to edit it. "The document "is supposed to be" edited by the manager" means the manager has the responsibility to edit it.