was allowed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was allowed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that permission was granted in the past for someone to do something. Example: "He was allowed to leave early from work yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That was allowed.

The New York Times - Arts

Eventually, I was allowed inside.

The New York Times

Only one voice was allowed.

Independent

Carrie was allowed just one.

The New Yorker

No mobile roaming was allowed.

The Economist

Saddam was allowed to survive.

The New Yorker

I was allowed in.

The Guardian - Opinion

So I was allowed to stay.

The New Yorker

She was allowed to do this.

The New Yorker

Sexier stuff was allowed, to a point.

The New Yorker

No superfluous word was allowed to survive.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "was permitted" or "was authorized" to vary your writing and maintain reader engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "was allowed" with plural subjects. The correct form for plural subjects is "were allowed". For example, it should be "They were allowed to leave" not "They was allowed to leave".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was allowed" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that someone or something received permission or was granted the opportunity to do something. Ludwig confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

32%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was allowed" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate that permission was granted in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently in diverse contexts such as news, scientific literature, and general writing. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to maintain subject-verb agreement and consider using synonyms like "was permitted" to enhance writing. Ensure context clarifies who granted permission to avoid ambiguity. By being mindful of these factors, you can effectively use "was allowed" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was permitted

Similar meaning, using 'permitted' as a synonym for 'allowed'.

was authorized

Implies a more formal or official permission.

was granted permission

More explicit and formal way of stating permission.

had permission to

Focuses on the possession of permission rather than the act of allowing.

was given leave to

Suggests a formal granting of permission, often in professional contexts.

was entitled to

Implies a right or entitlement to do something.

was sanctioned

Suggests official approval or endorsement.

was given the green light

An idiomatic expression meaning approval to proceed.

was not prohibited from

Expresses permission by stating the absence of a prohibition.

could

A simpler way to express the ability to do something due to permission.

FAQs

How can I use "was allowed" in a sentence?

Use "was allowed" to indicate that someone received permission to do something in the past. For example, "She "was allowed to" bring her dog to work today."

What can I say instead of "was allowed"?

You can use alternatives like "was permitted", "was authorized", or "had permission to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "was allowed to" or "were allowed to"?

"Was allowed to" is correct for singular subjects, while "were allowed to" is correct for plural subjects. For instance, "He "was allowed to" go home" and "They "were allowed to" leave early".

What's the difference between "was allowed" and "was supposed to"?

"Was allowed" indicates permission to do something, while "was supposed to" indicates an expectation or obligation. For example, "He "was allowed to" eat cake" means he had permission, but "He "was supposed to" eat vegetables" means he should have done so.