which allowed him to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which allowed him to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something provided the opportunity or means for someone to do something. Example: "The scholarship he received was a significant financial boost, which allowed him to pursue his dream of studying abroad."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Adrien didn't speak English, just some schoolboy French, which allowed him to communicate with Jock.

The New Yorker

He had an easy facility in drawing which allowed him to skim effortlessly through art school.

The New Yorker

Fenton resigned, which allowed him to leave the Army with honor.

The New York Times

He & Nicole signed a pre-nuptial agreement which allowed him to keep the house.

The New Yorker

He particularly loved Internet Relay Chat, which allowed him to watch programmers trading code.

The New Yorker

Behind the house were woods, which allowed him to convert the patio into a firing range.

The New Yorker

He said the second session — which allowed him to practice on the machine — instilled confidence.

The New York Times

Saban raved about Cody's work ethic and character, which allowed him to cut his weight.

The New York Times - Sports

He jumped at the chance, which allowed him to develop his gifts as a skier.

The Guardian - Music

She calls the dealer by the pseudonym Curt Avery, "which allowed him to speak candidly," she writes.

The New York Times - Arts

Beckett said he kept his hand above the ball Tuesday, which allowed him to pinpoint his spots.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which allowed him to" to clearly indicate a direct consequence or enablement resulting from a specific action or event. It improves clarity when the connection between the action and result needs emphasis.

Common error

Avoid using "which allowed him to" in overly simple sentences where a more concise construction would suffice. For instance, instead of "He studied hard, which allowed him to pass the exam", consider "He studied hard and passed the exam."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which allowed him to" functions as a relative clause, modifying a preceding noun or clause and indicating a consequence or enablement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is a grammatically sound and common construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

18%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Science

11%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which allowed him to" is a grammatically correct and frequently used relative clause that indicates enablement or opportunity. As highlighted by Ludwig, it's versatile across various contexts but most common in news, encyclopedias and Wiki sources. While simple and direct, it should be used judiciously to avoid redundancy in simple sentences. Related phrases like "that enabled him to" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that enabled him to

Replaces "allowed" with "enabled", suggesting a slightly stronger sense of capability.

that permitted him to

Substitutes "allowed" with "permitted", implying authorization or consent.

that gave him the opportunity to

Expands on the idea, explicitly stating that an opportunity was provided.

that let him

Uses the more informal "let" instead of "allowed", decreasing formality.

that made it possible for him to

Highlights the achievement of possibility.

facilitating his ability to

Transforms the clause into a participial phrase, emphasizing the facilitation of an ability.

it afforded him the chance to

Uses the more formal "afforded", implying a valuable chance was granted.

empowering him to

Suggests a sense of empowerment or greater control.

as a result, he was able to

Similar to the previous option, specifying that he gained ability as a result.

in consequence, he could

Indicates a consequential result, emphasizing his subsequent capability.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "which allowed him to" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you can replace "which allowed him to" with alternatives like "that enabled him to" or "it afforded him the chance to".

Is there a simpler way to express the same idea as "which allowed him to"?

Yes, for a simpler expression, consider using "that let him" or "so he could" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "which allowed him to" and "which helped him to"?

"Which allowed him to" suggests a more direct enablement, whereas "which helped him to" implies assistance but not necessarily full enablement. The choice depends on whether the action fully enabled the result or merely contributed to it.

Can I use "which allowed him to" at the beginning of a sentence?

While grammatically correct, starting a sentence with "which allowed him to" is less common. It's usually clearer to integrate the phrase within the sentence for better flow. Example: "His hard work, "which allowed him to" achieve success, was inspiring."