The phrasal verb "allow of" is relatively formal and is most commonly used in literary, academic, or professional contexts rather than in everyday informal speech. It is employed to indicate that a situation or context is permitting or making room for a particular outcome or interpretation. For instance, one might say, "The evidence allows of no other conclusion," meaning that the evidence does not permit any conclusions other than the one being stated. This usage is somewhat archaic, often steeped in legal or scholarly language, where precision and clarity are paramount. "Allow of" is less common than its simpler counterpart "allow," which is more frequently used in both formal and informal settings to indicate permission or enablement. As a more formal variant, "allow of" adds an element of restrictiveness, often used to reinforce emphasis on the limitations imposed by the circumstances being described.
B1
Intermediate
1. To permit the occurrence of, or to make possible; typically used in formal contexts.
The design of the new system allows of greater flexibility.