Meaning & use
easy access
Last updated
Meanings
phraseuncountable
a situation in which you can reach a place, thing, or service quickly and without difficulty.
Grammar: Uncountable; usually followed by 'to' plus a noun: easy access to the library.
Patterns
- easy access to something
- have easy access to something
- give someone easy access to something
- easy access for someone
The new path gives easy access to the beach for wheelchair users.
Students have easy access to the online journal collection from any computer.
The hotel offers easy access to the airport by train.
phraseuncountable
the ability to open, use, or get into something without meeting obstacles or restrictions.
Grammar: Uncountable; often used about information, buildings, or systems, and often followed by 'to'.
Patterns
- easy access to something
- gain easy access to something
- provide easy access to something
The password was weak, so hackers gained easy access to the account.
A ramp at the entrance provides easy access to the building for everyone.
Easy access to public records helps journalists check facts.
Common combinations
- give easy access to
- The bridge gives easy access to the island.
- have easy access to
- Employees have easy access to the company gym.
- easy access to information
- The internet offers easy access to information.
- easy access for disabled people
- The design includes easy access for disabled people.
- provide easy access
- The new road will provide easy access to the port.
- gain easy access
- Thieves gained easy access through an open window.
Synonyms and how they differ
- convenient access
- Sounds a little more formal and stresses that the access suits your needs rather than simply being simple.
- ready access
- Suggests something is always available and close at hand, often used in formal writing.
- easy reach
- Focuses on distance rather than permission or difficulty; you say a place is within easy reach.
Opposites
Word family
- access noun
- the general noun meaning the chance or right to use or enter something.
- accessible adjective
- describes a place or thing that is easy to reach or use.
- accessibility noun
- the quality of being easy to reach, enter, or use.
Commonly confused: easy access or access? easy access or excess?
easy access vs access
'Access' alone means the chance or right to enter or use something; 'easy access' adds that this is simple and quick, so it is a narrower idea.
easy access vs excess
'Excess' sounds similar but means too much of something, as in 'an excess of sugar'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'easy access' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Easy access' is uncountable and takes 'to', so option An is right. Option B wrongly adds 'an', option C wrongly makes it plural, and option D uses the wrong preposition 'of'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “easy access”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.