were not allowed

USAGE SUMMARY

'were not allowed' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about a situation in which something or someone is not permitted. For example: "We were not allowed to enter the building without a permit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Visitors were not allowed.

The New Yorker

Boaters were not allowed.

The New York Times

Relatives were not allowed to accompany them.

The New York Times

Brushes, paints and paper were not allowed.

The Economist

The Scouts were not allowed to participate.

The New York Times

Alcohol and caffeine were not allowed.

The New York Times - Travel

They were not allowed to go home.

The New Yorker

Boyfriends and mothers were not allowed in.

The New Yorker

Women were not allowed to vote".

The New Yorker

Women were not allowed to smoke.

The New Yorker

People were not allowed to leave.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were not allowed", ensure clarity about who is doing the allowing and what the specific restriction is. For instance, "Students were not allowed to use cellphones during the exam" provides clear context.

Common error

Avoid vague statements. Instead of saying "They were not allowed", specify who "they" are and what they were not allowed to do. For example, clarify "Patients were not allowed visitors after 9 PM" instead of just "They were not allowed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not allowed" functions as a passive construction indicating a prohibition or lack of permission. It specifies that someone or something was denied the ability to do something. As Ludwig AI says, the phrase is usable in written English when talking about a situation in which something or someone is not permitted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

21%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were not allowed" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express prohibition or lack of permission. It appears frequently in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. As Ludwig AI points out, it is suitable for written English when describing a situation where something or someone is not permitted. When using this phrase, clarity and specificity are important to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include "were prohibited" and "were not permitted", depending on the formality required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were prohibited

Uses a more formal synonym for "allowed", indicating a strict prohibition.

were forbidden

Emphasizes a strong sense of being disallowed, often with moral or ethical implications.

were not permitted

A more formal way of saying "were not allowed", indicating a lack of official permission.

were disallowed

Directly states that something was not allowed or approved.

were restricted

Indicates that access or use was limited, not necessarily completely prohibited.

were out of bounds

Suggests something was beyond the acceptable limits or boundaries.

were off-limits

Informal way to express that something was not permitted or accessible.

were not authorized

Implies a lack of official approval or sanction.

were ineligible

Indicates that someone or something did not meet the requirements to be allowed.

were excluded

Expresses that someone or something was deliberately kept out or prevented from participating.

FAQs

How can I use "were not allowed" in a sentence?

Use "were not allowed" to indicate a prohibition or lack of permission. For example, "Visitors "were not allowed" after visiting hours".

What are some alternatives to saying "were not allowed"?

You can use phrases like "were prohibited", "were forbidden", or "were not permitted" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "were not allowed" or "were prohibited"?

"Were prohibited" is generally more formal and implies a stricter rule or law, while "were not allowed" is more general and can apply to less formal situations.

What's the difference between "were not allowed" and "weren't allowed"?

"Weren't allowed" is simply a contraction of "were not allowed". They have the same meaning, but "weren't allowed" is more informal.