Who’da thunk forbid is the friendlier version of saying you can’t do something?
Meanwhile, prohibit is the formal, legal word that says you can’t do something.
Oh, and you’ll have to remember to use the correct prepositions:
- Use to with forbid, e.g., forbidden to use
- Use from with prohibit, e.g., prohibited from using
Word Confusions…
…started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noir for you from either end.
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| Forbid | Prohibit |
|---|---|
| Credit to: Apple Dictionary.com; Dictionary.com: forbid; Lexico.com: prohibit | |
Don’t Feed the Birds is under the CC0 license, via pxfuel. — Informal wording forbids feeding the birds. |
Smoking Sign by Picudio (pixabay.com) is under the CC0 license, via NeedPix. — The familiar red circle outline with the slash indicates a formal prohibition. |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Verb, transitive
Third person present verb: forbids |
Verb, transitive
Third person present verb: prohibits |
Refuse to allow (something)
|
Formally forbid (something) by law, rule, or other authority
|
| Examples: | |
| Environmental laws forbid alteration of the coast.
I was forbidden to leave Russia. My doctor has forbidden me to eat sugar. All cars are forbidden. The cliffs forbid any easy turning movement. She forbade him entry to the house. They forbid the use of lipstick. The building forbids smoking within 50-feet of the entrances. Burlesque is forbidden in many cities. God forbid she should actually be nice for more than five seconds. I forbid you to go. It was useless to forbid children to play in the park. |
There are laws prohibiting cruelty to animals.
He is prohibited from being a director. The budget agreement had prohibited any tax cuts. Smoking is prohibited. All ivory trafficking between nations is prohibited. Anyone judged by the electoral commission to lack ‘a good reputation’ was also prohibited from running for office. Upon release, Nelson is prohibited from driving for three years. Mutation prevention is essential to prohibit a bacterium from developing resistance to antibiotics to which it is exposed. What if circumstances prohibit us from pursuing anything further? Encourage your child to get involved in activities that prohibit smoking, such as sports. The sale of liquor to people under 21 is prohibited in most states. |
| Derivatives: | |
| Adjective: forbidden, forbidding Adverb: forbiddingly Noun: forbiddance, forbidder |
Adjective: prohibited, prohibitionary, prohibitive, prohibitory, unprohibited Adverb: prohibitively Noun: prohibiter, prohibition, Prohibitionist, prohibitiveness, prohibitor |
| History of the Word: | |
| Old English forbēodan, Middle English forbeden is related to the Old High German farbiotan, the Gothic faurbiudan. | Late Middle English from the Latin prohibit- meaning kept in check, from the verb prohibere, from pro- (in front) + habere (to hold). |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan…which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them…and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions by exploring the index. You may also want to explore Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, and/or the Properly Punctuated.
Pinterest Photo Credits:
Forbidden Rules Sign by melodiustenor (pixabay.com) is under the CC0 license, via Needpix.
