let them gather

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "let them gather" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to suggest allowing a group of people or things to come together or assemble. Example: "Before we start the meeting, let's let them gather in the conference room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The city has long employed welfare recipients in nearly a dozen city agencies as a way to let them gather work experience.

The New York Times

Growing up in Lewisham, south London, he produced three albums by the time he was 17, but was content to let them gather dust.

The Guardian - Music

The Supreme Court's decision puts increased pressure on the S.E.C. to pursue its investigations with greater alacrity and not let them gather dust, which can occur as a result of staff turnover or other pressing issues.

The New York Times

"If in Moscow, a city of many millions, 200 people want to gather exactly on the 31st, exactly on Triumphal Square, in these modest numbers, let them gather," he said in an interview.

The New York Times

Let them gather as a sign to the world that they understand the terrible power they possess and commit to finding ways to shield the rest of the world from this danger.

The New York Times

Guards walked them to their desks to let them gather up family photos, then confiscated their ID cards and escorted them out of the building.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Others were shoes I'd fallen in love with in the shop, then worn once before realising they were implements of torture and letting them gather dust since.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Of course, ad counters aren't charitable operations: they give away this independent counting function because it lets them gather titanic amounts of information about browsing habits.

The Guardian - Tech

But unions had hoped that the card check bill would make it easier to unionize workers because card check lets them gather majority support, often without giving employers the opportunity to campaign against the union.

The New York Times

"Let them go and gather straw for themselves".

The New York Times

Before we all jump to premature conclusions about the results shouldn't we let them at least gather the evidence?

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "let them gather" when you want to grant permission or suggest allowing people or things to come together for a specific purpose. It can imply a sense of invitation or passive allowance.

Common error

Avoid using "let them gather" when the situation requires a more active encouragement or forceful command. This phrase suggests permission or passive allowance, not a strong directive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "let them gather" functions as an imperative, expressing permission or a suggestion to allow a group (people or things) to come together. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "let them gather" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that functions as an imperative, granting permission or suggesting allowance for a group to assemble. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's acceptable for use in various contexts. While its frequency is considered uncommon, it appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, primarily within News & Media. Alternatives such as "allow them to assemble" or "permit them to convene" may be considered for more formal settings. Remember that the phrase should be used to suggest permission or passive allowance, rather than a forceful command.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allow them to assemble

Focuses on the act of assembling rather than just permitting the gathering.

permit them to convene

Uses a more formal term, "convene", to indicate a formal gathering.

give them leave to congregate

Emphasizes permission with "give them leave", using the term "congregate".

authorize their meeting

Focuses on authorizing or approving the meeting itself.

enable them to rally

Suggests a more active and potentially political gathering.

facilitate their get-together

Implies making the gathering easier or more convenient.

make it possible for them to meet

Highlights the possibility or opportunity to gather.

don't prevent their assembly

Uses a negative framing, focusing on the absence of prevention.

let them collect

Implies that something will be collected at that gathering

allow them to accumulate

Focuses on something accumulating as a result of people gathering together.

FAQs

How can I use "let them gather" in a sentence?

You can use "let them gather" to suggest allowing a group to come together. For example, "Before we start the presentation, "let them gather" in the conference room".

What are some alternatives to "let them gather"?

Alternatives include "allow them to assemble", "permit them to convene", or "give them leave to congregate", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

What does "let them gather dust" mean?

"Let them gather dust" is an idiom that means to allow something to sit unused or neglected. For example, "I produced three albums by the time I was 17, but was content to "let them gather dust"".

Is it appropriate to use "let them gather" in formal writing?

Yes, "let them gather" can be used in formal writing, although alternatives like "permit them to convene" or "allow them to assemble" might be preferred in very formal contexts.