leave some leeway

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leave some leeway" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing flexibility or allowance for variation in plans, decisions, or expectations. Example: "When planning the project timeline, it's important to leave some leeway for unexpected delays."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Though the natural expression of history's logic has certain firm parameters, they leave some leeway.

The New York Times - Books

But Mr. O'Connor's optimism and the fact that most layoffs would not occur until late in the summer appeared to leave some leeway for a resurrection of the original agreement or for a slightly tweaked version that would eliminate the need for the job and program cuts.

The New York Times

"It's significant that U.S. attorneys will no longer be able to use the size or profitability of a legal marijuana business to determine whether or not it should be a target for prosecution, but the guidelines seem to leave some leeway for the feds to continue making it hard for state-legal marijuana providers to do business," Angell told The Huffington Post.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But after reiterating that he doesn't support bailing out individual institutions, Romney left himself some leeway.

Huffington Post

That might give some leeway for experimentation.

TechCrunch

Palestinian officials and experts said that the Cairo timetable aimed for the formation of a unity government by sometime in August, while the Wafa announcement on Sunday did not specify any dates or deadlines, leaving Mr. Abbas some leeway.

The New York Times

We protocolised the post-clinical PT in terms of treatment objectives, leaving individual therapists some leeway to specify these objectives at their own discretion.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Mr. Giuliani's remarks about waterboarding seemed to leave more leeway toward using the practice than remarks he made at a news conference in June.

The New York Times

By toughening its requirements, the FHA hopes it will leave less leeway for abusive lenders to get away with issuing loans that more reputable lenders have rejected.

The Washington Post

In practice, however, such regulatory strategies leave considerable leeway in the manner in which clinical biobanking initiatives are governed.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

As the fiscal situation in most affected member states does not leave much leeway for social policy expansion, the politics necessary for such changes are complex and probably involve zero-sum conflicts.

Journal for Labour Market Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When outlining project timelines, "leave some leeway" to accommodate unforeseen delays or scope changes, ensuring realistic goal attainment.

Common error

Avoid creating excessively rigid schedules that don't "leave some leeway". Unforeseen issues almost always arise; anticipate these by providing buffers in your timelines and budgets.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leave some leeway" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to express the action of providing or allowing flexibility within a specific context. It indicates that there is room for adjustment or variation. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is valid and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "leave some leeway" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for advocating flexibility in plans or rules. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and adaptable to a variety of contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. While alternative expressions like "allow some latitude" or "provide some flexibility" exist, "leave some leeway" serves effectively to encourage adaptability. Remember to incorporate this principle into your planning to avoid the pitfalls of over-rigidity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allow some latitude

Implies granting freedom from rigid rules or strict adherence to a plan.

provide some flexibility

Highlights the adaptability and adjustability of a plan or approach.

permit some flexibility

Similar to 'provide some flexibility', but suggests a more official or formal allowance.

leave some room for maneuver

Suggests setting things up so that you can still change your plans if necessary.

give some margin for error

Specifically focuses on accommodating potential mistakes or inaccuracies.

offer a degree of flexibility

More formal than "offer some wiggle room", referring to the possibility of changing something.

offer some wiggle room

Informal way of saying allow flexibility; suggests a bit of extra space to maneuver.

build in some buffer

Emphasizes adding extra time, resources, or space to a plan as a safety measure.

grant some discretion

Focuses on delegating decision-making power or allowing someone to use their judgment.

allow for contingencies

Specifically planning for events that may or may not happen.

FAQs

How can I use "leave some leeway" in a sentence?

You can use "leave some leeway" to suggest that some flexibility is allowed in a situation. For example, "The guidelines "leave some leeway" for interpretation by local authorities".

What does "leave some leeway" mean?

"Leave some leeway" means to allow some flexibility or room for maneuver in a plan, rule, or situation. It implies not being too strict or rigid, permitting adjustments as needed.

What are some alternative phrases for "leave some leeway"?

Alternatives for "leave some leeway" include "allow some latitude", "provide some flexibility", or "give some margin for error".

When is it appropriate to use "leave some leeway"?

It is appropriate to use "leave some leeway" when you want to emphasize the importance of flexibility or the acceptance of minor deviations from a standard or procedure. It's also useful in contexts where complete predictability is unlikely.