to block someone from doing something

USAGE SUMMARY

"to block someone from doing something" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe when someone is prevented from doing something. For example: "The government issued new security regulations that blocked citizens from entering the airport."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Bracciale said a hex is fundamentally different from a "binding" spell, which is about trying to block someone from doing something and limits others' agency.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is said to stop someone from doing something new.

Forbes

Although these conditions are framed in terms of keeping someone from doing something, they are intended to cover inducing someone to take an action, as well.

SEP

TurboTax and Block saved me from doing something stupid, and TaxAct at least warned me.

The New York Times

Stopping someone else from doing something, say getting married.

Huffington Post

"Is someone else doing something to upset you?" "No".

WikiHow

Being forced to kiss someone or do something else sexually.

WikiHow

Every few years, someone suggests doing something about it.

The New York Times

The term "deprivation" indicates a culpable omission, or even an explicit act robbing someone of the possibility of being someone or doing something.

European Journal of Futures Research

The term "deprivation" indicates a culpable omission, or even an act robbing someone of the possibility of being someone or doing something.

European Journal of Futures Research

Someone already doing something similar?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to block someone from doing something", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific action being prevented. For example, "The new law aims to block companies from polluting the river."

Common error

Avoid using "to block someone from doing something" when a more precise verb like "deter", "hinder", or "prevent" would better reflect the degree of obstruction. "Block" implies a complete stop, while others suggest partial impedance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to block someone from doing something" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose or intent. It describes the reason or objective behind an action, specifically to prevent another person from performing a certain action. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to block someone from doing something" is a grammatically correct infinitive phrase used to express the intent of preventing someone from performing an action. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. While relatively rare in occurrence, the phrase appears most frequently in news media, scientific, and wiki contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the action being blocked is clearly defined, and consider whether a more nuanced verb like "prevent" or "hinder" might be more appropriate. Alternative phrasings include "to prevent someone from acting" and "to stop someone from taking action".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to prevent someone from acting

Replaces "block" with "prevent" and "doing something" with "acting" to achieve a more concise expression.

to stop someone from taking action

Uses "stop" instead of "block" and rephrases "doing something" as "taking action".

to hinder someone's ability to act

Emphasizes hindering the ability rather than directly blocking the action.

to impede someone from performing an action

Replaces "block" with "impede", resulting in a more formal tone.

to obstruct someone from carrying out a task

Focuses on obstructing the task rather than blocking the person.

to restrain someone from executing a plan

Highlights restraint from executing a plan instead of general action.

to thwart someone's efforts

Shifts focus to thwarting efforts rather than directly preventing action.

to prohibit someone from engaging in activity

Uses "prohibit" for a legal or authoritative connotation.

to preclude someone from undertaking something

Offers a formal alternative using "preclude" to suggest impossibility.

to disable someone's capacity to do something

Focuses on disabling the capacity or ability to act.

FAQs

What is another way to say "to block someone from doing something"?

You can use alternatives such as "to prevent someone from acting", "to stop someone from taking action", or "to hinder someone's ability to act" depending on the specific context.

How do I use "to block someone from doing something" in a sentence?

Use "to block someone from doing something" to indicate preventing a specific action. Example: "The security measures are designed to block unauthorized personnel from accessing the data."

What's the difference between "to block someone from doing something" and "to prevent someone from doing something"?

While similar, "to block someone from doing something" often implies a more direct or forceful obstruction, whereas "to prevent someone from doing something" can encompass a broader range of preemptive actions. They are often interchangeable, but consider the nuance of forcefulness.

Is "to block someone to do something" grammatically correct?

No, the correct grammatical structure is "to block someone from doing something". The preposition "from" is necessary to link "block" with the action being prevented.