it is not allowed

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "It is not allowed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is prohibited. For example: "It is not allowed to bring food and drinks into the museum."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

–It is not allowed to violate the DRM standard such as making modifications to receiver structure, data rate, cell-interleaving and pilot cells.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

THE rules say it is not allowed.

The Economist

"It is not allowed in Islam".

The New York Times

It is not allowed by the President's executive order.

The New Yorker

"It is not allowed under accounting rules to do that".

The New York Times

For instance, it is not allowed to provide medical services on-site.

The New York Times

It is down to the scheme's trustees but, broadly speaking, it is not allowed.

The Guardian - Money

And it is not allowed to invest in the following projects: 1.

The Guardian

"It was decided that it is not allowed anymore to tell a story in a book.

The New Yorker

In short, because it is not allowed to borrow any more money.

The Guardian - Business

The exception is North Dakota, where Wal-Mart says it is not allowed to operate pharmacies.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it is not allowed", be clear about who or what is imposing the restriction. For example, specify if it's a rule, law, or policy.

Common error

Avoid using "it is not allowed" without providing context. Always specify what the rule applies to and, if possible, the reason behind it to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is not allowed" functions as an impersonal construction used to express prohibition or restriction. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It is often used to state rules, regulations, or policies that must be followed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

27%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is not allowed" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to express prohibition or restriction. As confirmed by Ludwig, its function is to inform and enforce limitations across a variety of contexts, with a register that ranges from neutral to formal. The phrase appears frequently in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. When using this phrase, clarity is key: always specify what is being restricted and why. Alternative phrases include "it is prohibited" and "it is not permitted", offering subtle variations in formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is not permitted

Substitutes "allowed" with "permitted", maintaining a similar level of formality and directness.

it is prohibited

Replaces "allowed" with "prohibited", a more formal synonym, indicating a stronger sense of restriction.

it is forbidden

Uses "forbidden", which is a stronger and more emphatic synonym for "not allowed".

it is not authorized

Emphasizes the lack of official approval or sanction, using "authorized" in place of "allowed".

it is impermissible

Employs "impermissible", a formal term suggesting that something is not only disallowed but also morally or ethically wrong.

it is against the rules

States directly that something "is against the rules", clarifying that a specific regulation is being violated.

it is unacceptable

Replaces the direct prohibition with a judgment of "unacceptable", implying that something does not meet required standards or expectations.

it is ruled out

Shifts the expression to "ruled out", indicating that something has been officially excluded as a possibility.

it is off-limits

Similar to "out of bounds", but slightly more informal, indicating that something is restricted or inaccessible.

it is out of bounds

Uses the idiomatic phrase "out of bounds", suggesting that something is beyond acceptable limits or boundaries.

FAQs

How can I use "it is not allowed" in a sentence?

Use "it is not allowed" to indicate that something is prohibited or against the rules. For example, "It is not allowed to take photographs inside the museum."

What are some alternative phrases to "it is not allowed"?

You can use alternatives like "it is prohibited", "it is forbidden", or "it is not permitted" to convey a similar meaning with slight variations in formality.

Which is correct, "it is not allowed" or "it isn't allowed"?

Both "it is not allowed" and "it isn't allowed" are grammatically correct. The latter is a contraction of the former and is suitable for less formal contexts.

What's the difference between "it is not allowed" and "it is not recommended"?

"It is not allowed" indicates a prohibition or rule, while "it is not recommended" suggests that something is discouraged but not strictly forbidden. The former implies a restriction, while the latter implies a suggestion.