Allow Me to Explain

An editor once asked me the following question: 

Is it still correct to use “allow” and “allow for” differently? In material I am editing, I often see “allow for” when I think adding the “for” is wrong (or at least unnecessary) for the meaning.

My dictionary indicates that, as I expected, “allow” means “admit (an event or activity) as legal or acceptable” or permit (in several senses, including to permit someone to have or do something). Definitions of “allow for” include “make provision for,” “ta...