provided we were allowed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "provided we were allowed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a condition under which something would happen, typically in a formal or conditional context. Example: "We would proceed with the project, provided we were allowed to access the necessary resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Why yes, We the People could do a great job of providing these things for ourselves, if we were allowed to.

Huffington Post

Some philosophers take these to be metaphysical questions questions whose answers call for adequate identity criteria, which must be provided before we are allowed to take our event talk seriously.

SEP

After recording the initial weight of roots provided, gophers were allowed to feed for four hours, at which time remaining food was recovered.

Plosone

In this paper, we study data from 28 participants who solved 28 instances of the TSP, were provided feedback and were allowed to solve any instance unlimited times.

Plosone

The rules were simple: men must wear a tie, electronic devices were completely forbidden, only the newspapers that were provided were allowed, no whispering, no laughing--heck, no briefcase!

Huffington Post

Only adolescents whose parents or guardians provided written consent were allowed to participate in the study.

BMC Pediatrics

The Palm Vx handheld device (Palm Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA) was provided, but trainees were allowed to use their own Palm operating system devices.

Critical Care

Access to the area was tightly restricted; only those provided with "Dressing" stickers were allowed inside.

The New York Times

The military had been the closest thing Egypt had to a guarantor of stability and we thought once we explained who we were and provided documentation we would be allowed to go to our hotel.

The New York Times

You have to ask yourself, is it all worth it?" The answer for Whitmore is a resounding yes, provided she's allowed to shine this season.

The New York Times - Sports

There's no doubt in my mind he will do a good job – provided he's allowed to do it.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "provided we were allowed" to introduce a condition that hinges on obtaining permission or authorization for a specific action or situation. This phrase is suitable for formal writing where clarity and precision are essential.

Common error

Avoid using "provided we were allowed" interchangeably with a simple 'if' clause when the context explicitly involves permission. "Provided" emphasizes a prerequisite condition more strongly than a general 'if' statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provided we were allowed" functions as a conditional clause, setting a prerequisite for a specific outcome. It's used to indicate that an action or event is contingent upon receiving permission or authorization. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "provided we were allowed" serves as a conditional clause, emphasizing that a specific action or event hinges on obtaining permission. While grammatically sound and usable, according to Ludwig AI, its frequency is currently missing, making it challenging to pinpoint specific contexts. Alternative phrases, such as "if we had permission" or "assuming we had authorization", can offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context explicitly involves permission or authorization, maintaining clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if we had permission

Replaces "provided" with a more direct conditional "if", clarifying the dependency on permission.

assuming we had authorization

Substitutes "provided" with "assuming" and "allowed" with "authorization", increasing formality.

on the condition that we were permitted

Introduces a more formal tone using "on the condition that" and "permitted".

given that we were authorized

Replaces "provided" with "given that" and "allowed" with "authorized", maintaining a conditional structure.

contingent upon our being allowed

Emphasizes the dependence using "contingent upon", making the phrase more formal.

subject to our being permitted

Highlights the dependency using "subject to", suggesting a potential restriction.

if we were granted leave

Uses "granted leave" instead of "allowed", framing it as a formal granting of permission.

in the event we were authorized

Presents the situation as a hypothetical event, using "authorized" for formality.

supposing we were given consent

Replaces "provided" with "supposing" and "allowed" with "given consent", indicating a hypothetical situation.

presuming we were cleared

Implies a clearance process, substituting "allowed" with "cleared", suggesting an official approval.

FAQs

What does "provided we were allowed" mean?

The phrase "provided we were allowed" means something would happen only if permission was granted. It indicates a condition or prerequisite that must be met.

How can I use "provided we were allowed" in a sentence?

You can use it to express a condition based on permission, such as, "We would proceed with the project, "provided we were allowed" to access the necessary resources."

What can I say instead of "provided we were allowed"?

Alternatives include "if we had permission", "assuming we had authorization", or "on the condition that we were permitted".

Is "provided we are allowed" grammatically correct?

Yes, the phrase is grammatically sound. The tense may shift depending on the context, but it follows standard English grammar rules. You might also consider "provided that we are allowed".