accepted with reservations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accepted with reservations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a conditional agreement or approval, indicating that there are some concerns or limitations associated with the acceptance. Example: "The proposal was accepted with reservations due to the potential budget constraints that may arise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

After the Civil War, Robert E. Lee was recruited to become college president of what was by then called Washington College, a post he accepted with reservations, worried that he "might draw upon the college a feeling of hostility". When he died in 1870, trustees voted to change the name of the school to Washington and Lee University.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

BEING named an American Dream Town in a national contest with no ground rules is an honor Greenport happily accepts, with reservations.

The New York Times

Half those affected already live in exile, but the fate of the others, some of whom appear to have been singled out because of Iranian ancestry, remains unclear.Last year, Bahrain's rulers appeared to open a door to compromise by accepting, with reservations, the rulings of an impartial international inquiry that they had invited.

The Economist

'I accept with reservations because it is the most reasonable explanation of the world, thought it was an idea thought up by man and man can make mistakes and have different ideas.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Notoriously, by the end of 'Certainty' Moore acknowledges defeat: having agreed that if he does not know that he is not dreaming, then he does not know such things as that he is standing up and talking, he accepts (with reservations) that he cannot know for certain that he is not dreaming.

SEP

The big energy companies and nuclear producers accepted, with huge reservations, the government's energy policy.

The New York Times

We shouldn't be taking away rights". Most of the ordinance was recommended by the city's Parking Traffic and Circulation Committee, which did not include banning any streets, and was accepted with some reservation by skateboarding adherents.

Los Angeles Times

Mr Barak accepted it, with reservations.

The Economist

In it, the envoy confirms that Houthi rebels and the party of former president and Houthi ally Ali Abdullah Saleh have expressed willingness to accept — with some reservations — a UN Security Council resolution, approved in April.

Vice

Interviewed on the Israeli radio, Mr. Eban said Israel had been faced with three possibilities when confronted with the United States proposals to reject them, to accept them unconditionally, or to accept them with reservations, as the Israeli Cabinet has decided to do.

The New York Times

The Palestinians have endorsed the plan, and Israel accepts it with reservations, but the two sides have yet to begin taking the steps outlined in the first of three phases.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "accepted with reservations", clearly state the specific reservations to avoid ambiguity and ensure transparency.

Common error

Avoid using "accepted with reservations" when the reservations are so significant that they effectively negate the acceptance. In such cases, it's more accurate to describe it as a rejection or a counter-offer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accepted with reservations" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the manner in which something was accepted. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it expresses a conditional acceptance, suggesting underlying concerns or limitations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "accepted with reservations" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote conditional agreement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its function is to convey acceptance while simultaneously expressing caution or conditions. It commonly appears in news, science, and business contexts. When using the phrase, it is important to clearly articulate the specific reservations to avoid misunderstanding. Alternative phrases such as "approved with caveats" or "reluctantly accepted" can be used depending on the specific nuances you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accepted with misgivings

Replaces "reservations" with "misgivings", emphasizing doubt or unease.

approved with reservations

Substitutes "accepted" with "approved", suggesting a more formal endorsement with lingering concerns.

agreed with reservations

Similar to "accepted with reservations" but uses "agreed" instead of "accepted".

accepted with conditions

Uses "conditions" instead of "reservations", highlighting specific requirements or stipulations for acceptance.

accepted with caveats

Replaces "reservations" with "caveats", indicating specific warnings or provisos.

conditionally accepted

Highlights that the acceptance is not absolute, but based on stipulations.

reluctantly accepted

Emphasizes the hesitation in accepting, implying a lack of enthusiasm.

qualified acceptance

Highlights that acceptance is not complete or unconditional.

accepted subject to

Indicates acceptance depends on fulfilling certain criteria or modifications.

accepted provisionally

Suggests acceptance is temporary or subject to later review.

FAQs

How can I use "accepted with reservations" in a sentence?

You can use "accepted with reservations" to indicate that you agree to something but have concerns or conditions. For example, "The committee "accepted the proposal with reservations" regarding the budget."

What can I say instead of "accepted with reservations"?

You can use alternatives like "approved with caveats", "accepted with conditions", or "reluctantly accepted depending on the context".

What does it mean to say something was "accepted with reservations"?

It means that while the offer or proposal was generally agreed upon, there are specific concerns, objections, or conditions attached to that acceptance.

Is "accepted with reservations" the same as rejecting something?

No, "accepted with reservations" implies a level of agreement, while rejection means the offer is turned down entirely. "Accepted with reservations" suggests a conditional agreement, not a complete dismissal.