refrain from permitting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refrain from permitting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when advising or instructing someone to avoid allowing something to happen. Example: "We must refrain from permitting any unauthorized access to the building."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

At the same time, Mr. Muhammad's campaign steps away from the traditional positions of most Harlem politicians by emphasizing the importance of school vouchers and of the need for society to refrain from permitting abortions.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Japan shall revoke any existent authorisation, permit or licence granted in relation to Jarpa II and refrain from granting any further permits in pursuance to the program".

The Guardian

If you cannot do so, whether by reason of conscience or physical limitation, you are permitted to refrain from taking the job.

Huffington Post

And we urge him to refrain from issuing any new permits until the most stringent, comprehensive drilling rules have been put into place and a hard-charging enforcement team has been positioned to prevent slipshod drilling practices from poisoning New York's air, water and land.

The New York Times

Instead, it told the West African nation to "take all necessary steps to ensure than no new drilling either by Ghana or under its control takes place in the disputed area" and to "refrain from granting any new permit for oil exploration and exploitation in the disputed area".

BBC

It must cease all special permits and refrain from issuing any more.

The Guardian

The use of phosphodiesterase (PDE) type V inhibitors is permitted; however, participants must refrain from taking these medications within 1 day of screening or any subsequent study visit.

BMJ Open

During the intervention period both groups will be asked to refrain from seeking other treatment but will be permitted to continue pain medication.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Simple analgesia was permitted, but participants were asked to refrain from seeking other forms of treatment during the trial.

British Medical Journal

To permit honest, independent coverage, the company must refrain from exerting its business interest.

The New York Times

Participants will be asked to refrain from other forms of OA treatment, but stable drug doses will be permitted.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "refrain from permitting", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being disallowed and why. This will strengthen the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "refrain from permitting" in informal contexts. Simpler alternatives like "don't allow" may be more appropriate for casual communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refrain from permitting" functions as a directive, instructing someone to avoid granting permission for something. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct. It is a verb phrase that includes an infinitive.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "refrain from permitting" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is primarily used to express the need to avoid granting permission, typically in formal contexts such as news, media, and scientific documents. While the phrase is not frequently used, its meaning is clear, and it conveys a serious and deliberate tone. When writing, remember that simpler alternatives might be more appropriate for informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abstain from allowing

This alternative uses "abstain" which implies a voluntary holding back, similar to refraining.

avoid authorizing

This phrase replaces "refrain" with "avoid" and "permitting" with "authorizing", maintaining a similar meaning but with slightly different connotations.

desist from licensing

This suggests stopping the process of granting licenses.

forgo enabling

This alternative means to give up the action of enabling.

cease to allow

This alternative indicates a complete stop to the act of allowing something.

discontinue authorizing

This option indicates to stop the action of authorizing.

halt the approval of

This conveys stopping the process of approving.

inhibit the granting of

This phrase focuses on hindering the act of granting something.

preclude the possibility of licensing

This alternative implies preventing any chance of licensing.

veto the authorization of

This suggests using veto power to reject the authorization.

FAQs

How can I use "refrain from permitting" in a sentence?

You can use "refrain from permitting" to express the need to avoid allowing something. For example: "The regulatory body must "refrain from permitting" any activities that could harm the environment."

What's the difference between "refrain from permitting" and "avoid allowing"?

"Refrain from permitting" is more formal and emphasizes a conscious decision to abstain. "Avoid allowing" is more general and suggests preventing something from happening. Use "refrain from permitting" when the conscious choice to abstain is important.

What can I say instead of "refrain from permitting"?

You can use alternatives like "avoid authorizing", "desist from licensing", or "cease to allow" depending on the context.

Is "refrain from permitting" too formal for everyday conversation?

Yes, "refrain from permitting" is quite formal. In everyday conversation, it's generally better to use simpler phrases like "don't allow", "avoid allowing", or "don't let".