Allow vs. Allow for – Which is Correct?
Allow and allow for are both correct, but they are not interchangeable in every sentence. Allow means give permission, provide an opportunity, or leave time or space. Allow for means take something into account or make provision for it. Choose allow for when you mean anticipate, accommodate, or consider an additional factor.
Allow or Allow for – Which is Correct?
Allow and allow for are both correct American English expressions, but they have different meanings. Use allow when you mean to give permission, make something possible, or reserve time or space. Use allow for when you mean to consider, anticipate, or make provision for a possibility or factor.
For example, “The teacher allowed students to use calculators” means the teacher gave permission. However, “The schedule allows for delays” means the schedule includes extra time in case delays occur.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use this simple swap test: if you can replace the expression with permit, use allow. If you can replace it with take into account or make room for, use allow for.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| allow | Verb | Give permission, make possible, or reserve time or space | The policy allows employees to work remotely. |
| allow for | Phrasal verb | Take into account or make provision for something | Allow for heavy traffic when planning your journey. |
How to Use Allow
Allow is a versatile verb used in formal and informal English. It commonly means “give permission,” as in allowing someone to do something. It can also mean “make possible,” “let something happen,” or “reserve a certain amount of time, space, or money.”
When a person receives permission, the usual structure is allow + someone + to + verb: “The manager allowed her to leave early.” In negative sentences, use not to: “The museum does not allow visitors to take photographs.”
Allow can also be followed by a noun: “The design allows flexibility.” When referring to time or space, it often appears in the pattern allow time or space for something: “Allow ten minutes for check-in.”
Example 1: The instructor allowed the students to submit their assignments late.
Example 2: This software allows users to organize their files efficiently.
Example 3: Please allow plenty of time to reach the airport.
Etymology of the Word Allow
Allow entered English through Anglo-Norman and Old French forms related to approval, acceptance, and permission. Its deeper history is connected with the Latin allocare, meaning “to assign” or “to place.” Over time, its meanings expanded to include granting permission, making possible, and providing an amount of something.
How to Use Allow for
Allow for is a phrasal verb meaning to take a factor into account or make provision for a possible event. It is especially common when discussing planning, budgets, schedules, measurements, risks, and practical arrangements.
Unlike allow, allow for does not usually mean give permission. For example, “The plan allows for bad weather” means the plan considers bad weather and includes a response or adjustment for it.
Example 1: The budget allows for unexpected repair costs.
Example 2: We should allow for traffic before setting a departure time.
Example 3: The building design allows for future expansion.
What Are the Different Forms of Allow for?
Allow for is formed from the regular verb allow and the preposition for. Its main forms are allow for, allows for, allowed for, and allowing for.
Examples include “The estimate allows for inflation,” “The estimate allowed for inflation,” and “The estimate is allowing for inflation.” In some contexts, allowing for can also mean “considering”: “Allowing for differences in age, the results were similar.”
Etymology of the Phrase Allow for
The phrase allow for developed from the broader meanings of allow, especially the ideas of assigning, providing, and making room. The addition of for directs attention to the factor being considered or accommodated, such as time for travel, money for repairs, or space for growth.
Related Concepts
Understanding verb patterns and prepositional phrases makes the distinction between allow and allow for easier to apply accurately.
- Permission verbs: Verbs such as allow, permit, and let express authorization. “Allow” and “permit” are commonly followed by an object and an infinitive: “They allowed him to enter.”
- Phrasal verbs: A phrasal verb combines a verb with a particle or preposition to create a particular meaning. In “allow for,” the word for changes the meaning from granting permission to considering or accommodating something.
- Infinitives: After “allow” with a person or group, use to plus the base verb: “The rules allow members to vote.” Do not write “allow members vote.”
- Prepositional phrases: The phrase “for” introduces the factor being considered, as in “allow for delays,” “allow for costs,” or “allow for variation.”
Examples from Media and Literature
Both forms appear frequently in journalism, fiction, business writing, and public information. The following examples show their typical real-world uses:
- News reporting: “The revised regulations allow residents to apply online.” Here, allow means give people permission or access.
- Travel advice: “Passengers should allow for additional screening time at the airport.” Here, allow for means plan for a possible delay.
- Business reporting: “The company’s forecast allows for higher energy costs.” The forecast takes those costs into account.
- Historical fiction: “The law allowed citizens to petition the court.” The verb expresses an officially granted right.
- Science and technical writing: “The experiment must allow for measurement error.” The procedure must account for a possible source of inaccuracy.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct expression, allow or allow for, to complete each sentence.
- The building code does not ______ residents to block the emergency exits.
- Please ______ extra time if you are traveling during rush hour.
- The new app ______ customers to track their orders.
- The financial plan should ______ unexpected medical expenses.
- Does the hotel ______ pets in its rooms?
Answer Key
- allow — The building code does not allow residents to block the emergency exits.
- allow for — Please allow for extra time if you are traveling during rush hour.
- allow — The new app allows customers to track their orders.
- allow for — The financial plan should allow for unexpected medical expenses.
- allow — Does the hotel allow pets in its rooms?
Allow Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| permit | Give official or formal permission |
| authorize | Give someone official power or permission to act |
| let | Give permission in a generally more informal style |
| enable | Make an action or result possible |
| admit | Allow someone or something to enter |
Allow for Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| account for | Include or explain a factor in a calculation or judgment |
| take into account | Consider something when making a decision or plan |
| make provision for | Prepare for or reserve resources for something |
| accommodate | Make space or adjustments for a person, event, or condition |
| anticipate | Expect and prepare for a possible event |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “allow for” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Allow for” is a standard phrasal verb meaning to consider, anticipate, or make provision for something.
Question 2: Should I say “allow” or “allow for” permission?
Use allow when discussing permission: “The school allows students to use laptops.” Do not use “allow for” with this meaning.
Question 3: Is “allow for” formal or informal?
“Allow for” is acceptable in both formal and informal English. It is particularly common in professional writing about schedules, budgets, planning, and forecasts.
Conclusion
Allow means give permission, make something possible, or reserve time and space. Allow for means consider, anticipate, or make provision for a factor. Use the swap test: choose allow for “permit” and allow for for “take into account.” Pro tip: Choosing the precise expression strengthens your professional reputation by making your writing clearer and more reliable.
