letting him keep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "letting him keep" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing permission or allowance for someone to retain possession of something. Example: "After much consideration, I decided on letting him keep the old bicycle."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Letting him keep the hurt locker closed.

The New York Times

Mr Schröder can thank the Greens for letting him keep his crown.

The Economist

The so-called Interim National Council has gently sidelined its bumbling head, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, while letting him keep his title of president.

The Economist

The J.Crew case rewards a chief executive for his poor conduct, letting him keep the company without real penalties except reputational damage.

The New York Times

In other words, Strauss may not have entirely succeeded in charming the Americans into letting him keep his house; rather, he was saved by the rapid movement of the 103rd.

The New Yorker

It had an early hit with beer.com, which it bought in 1998 from a 21-year-old for $80,000 (letting him keep a 20percentt stake) and selling it three months later for $7 million.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Otherwise, let him keep trying.

The New York Times - Sports

But let him keep the photos.

The New York Times

"I'll let him keep commenting about it.

The New York Times - Sports

They voted to let him keep the veto?

The Guardian

Let him keep the car keys, for all I care.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "letting him keep" when you want to express permission or allowance for someone to retain something, whether it's physical possession, a title, or a privilege. Ensure the context clearly indicates who is granting the permission and what is being retained.

Common error

Avoid using "letting him keep" when the intended meaning is about maintaining a state or condition rather than retaining an object or title. For instance, instead of saying "letting him keep being sad", use "allowing him to remain sad" or "not interfering with his sadness".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "letting him keep" functions as a verb phrase expressing permission or allowance. It indicates that someone is being allowed to retain possession or control of something. Ludwig provides several examples where the phrase is used to describe situations involving retention of titles, possessions, or privileges.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "letting him keep" is a grammatically correct and usable expression meaning to allow someone to retain something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and suggests alternatives like "allowing him to retain". Predominantly found in News & Media, the phrase serves to communicate permissions or decisions about retaining possessions, titles, or privileges. While not very frequent, its usage is straightforward and generally neutral in register. Be mindful of the context to ensure "keep" refers to retaining something rather than maintaining a state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allowing him to retain

Replaces "letting" with "allowing" and "keep" with "retain", emphasizing formal permission.

permitting him to hold onto

Uses "permitting" instead of "letting", offering a slightly more formal tone, and "hold onto" instead of "keep".

granting him possession of

Emphasizes the act of bestowing ownership or control.

authorizing him to maintain

Focuses on the authorization aspect, suggesting official approval for continued maintenance.

enabling him to preserve

Highlights the ability to keep something in its current state.

leaving him in charge of

Shifts the focus to responsibility and control rather than just possession.

allowing him continued access to

Specifically refers to access rather than physical possession.

giving him leave to keep

Uses "giving leave" for a more formal and somewhat archaic tone.

consenting to his retaining

Emphasizes agreement and approval for the action of retaining.

not preventing him from keeping

Phrases the situation as the absence of prohibition, rather than active permission.

FAQs

What does "letting someone keep" mean?

The phrase "letting someone keep" means to allow or permit someone to retain possession of something, whether it's a physical object, a title, or a privilege. For example, "The company is "letting him keep" his position despite the controversy".

What are some alternatives to "letting him keep"?

You can use alternatives such as "allowing him to retain", "permitting him to hold onto", or "granting him possession of" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "letting him keep"?

Yes, "letting him keep" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard structure of "let" + object + infinitive without 'to', expressing permission or allowance.

How can I use "letting him keep" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "Despite the initial concerns, they ended up "letting him keep" the award". This indicates they permitted him to retain the award.