situation permitting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "situation permitting" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to suggest that a certain action or plan is contingent upon the circumstances. Example: I can attend the meeting tomorrow, situation permitting.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Proponents of repealing the antitrust exemption argue that such concentration has created an anticompetitive situation permitting huge premium increases.

The New York Times

Mark Wohlers showed why Manager Joe Torre has been hesitant to use him in a critical situation, permitting a homer on his third pitch and making an error.

The New York Times - Sports

Due to the financial constraints this will happen in two parts: half of the refund will be done during Q1/2016, and the other half within a year, our financial situation permitting," he writes.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Emergency Building Coordinators will assist if time and situation permit.

Columbia University

They hope to run awareness campaigns in the future, if the security situation permits it.

Independent

Because of conditions in the capital, Bangui, the State Department also advised Americans to leave "as the security situation permits".

The New York Times

Pressed on this, Mr Rogge said Chinese leaders have specifically promised to lift restrictions on travel to Tibet, "as soon as the security situation permits".

The Economist

According to the resolution, as many as 2,000 peacekeepers will be withdrawn by the end of June from "areas where the security situation permits".

The New York Times

In the next three years he undertook concert tours in Berlin and Prague and might have traveled more widely still had the international situation permitted.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The neutron flux monitoring (NFM) system of any reactor must, in any situation, permit both reactivity control and power level monitoring.

Nuclear Engineering and Design

"In the course of transferring security responsibility, the German government intends to reduce certain capabilities that are no longer needed, provided the situation permits, after the end of 2011-12," the report said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "situation permitting" to clearly indicate that an action is not guaranteed and depends on external circumstances. This adds a layer of caution and realism to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "situation permitting" repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your language with alternatives like "circumstances allowing" or "if the situation allows" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "situation permitting" functions as a qualifying adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to express a condition or contingency. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates that an action is dependent on the circumstances. The examples from Ludwig show it often used in contexts where plans or actions might be uncertain.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "situation permitting" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express that an action or event is conditional upon the circumstances. As noted by Ludwig AI, this is a correct and usable phrase. It appears most commonly in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While not exceedingly frequent, its clarity and neutrality make it a valuable addition to one's writing toolkit. Remember to consider alternatives like "circumstances allowing" or "if the situation allows" to avoid repetition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

circumstances allowing

Replaces "situation" with "circumstances" and "permitting" with "allowing", maintaining the same conditional meaning.

conditions allowing

Substitutes "situation" with "conditions", emphasizing the necessary prerequisites for something to occur.

if the situation allows

Adds a more explicit conditional clause using "if", clarifying the contingency.

as the situation allows

Uses "as" to indicate the dependence on the current situation, similar to "if".

when the situation permits

Replaces "if" with "when" to emphasize the timing aspect of the condition being met.

provided the situation permits

Adds "provided" to highlight the condition that must be met.

contingent on the situation

Expresses the dependence more directly using "contingent on".

depending on the circumstances

Uses "depending on" to show the reliance on the particular circumstances.

subject to the situation

Highlights that the action is "subject to" the constraints of the situation.

in suitable circumstances

Implies a specific set of conditions must be present for something to happen.

FAQs

How can I use "situation permitting" in a sentence?

You can use "situation permitting" to indicate that something will happen only if the circumstances are right. For example, "We will proceed with the outdoor event, "situation permitting"."

What are some alternatives to "situation permitting"?

Some alternatives to "situation permitting" include "circumstances allowing", "conditions allowing", or "if the situation allows".

Is "situation permitting" formal or informal?

"Situation permitting" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It's appropriate for most professional and academic contexts, but might sound slightly stilted in very informal settings.

Which is correct, "situation permitting" or "situation allows"?

Both "situation permitting" and "situation allows" are correct, but they function differently. "Situation permitting" is a participial phrase, while "situation allows" is a clause. The best choice depends on the specific sentence structure you need.