approval in principle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approval in principle" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that a concept or proposal has been tentatively accepted, pending further details or formalities. Example: "The board has given its approval in principle for the new project, but we still need to finalize the budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

HS2 has received cross-party approval in principle and the hybrid bill is passing through parliament.

The Guardian

During his stopover in Brussels this week, Secretary of State Colin Powell expressed American approval "in principle" for this approach.

The New York Times

But in September Mr. Gallop gave Gorgon approval in principle to use the island, and last month, the state's Parliament passed legislation allowing Gorgon to do so.

The New York Times

If Orlando could secure the approval in principle of MLS, the numbers might make a bit more sense to the State legislature which is where the most recent public/private stadium proposal foundered.

The Guardian - Sport

A day before the demolition last week, Mr. Atrash said, he had received approval in principle for his plans at the local Israeli headquarters, with only a few technical requirements to complete.

The New York Times

This ties in with the admission by Israel's defence minister, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, two weeks ago that he had given field commanders (even junior commanders) blanket approval in principle to carry out incursions into areas in the West Bank and Gaza that are fully under Palestinian control.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

We launched to a closed user group of approximately 70 participants in September 2010 and then, after our Approval-in-Principle from the Central Bank of Nigeria, to the general public in February 2011.

Forbes

Chongqing has "in principle" won approval from the Ministry of Finance and may introduce the property tax as early as this quarter, The China Securities Journal said Monday, citing the city's government.

The New York Times

And he points out that many other rich countries, lacking a specialist regulator of their own, look to the HFEA's work to inform their own laws.The technique has both public approval and the HFEA's blessing in principle.

The Economist

The Department for Education has given conditional, in-principle, approval for the closure of Sandown Bay Academy.

BBC

The Department for Education (DfE) has given conditional in-principle approval for the closure of the academy, which at the moment is run by the Academies Enterprise Trust.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "approval in principle", ensure you clarify the conditions or further steps required to achieve full approval. This prevents misunderstandings and sets clear expectations.

Common error

Avoid treating "approval in principle" as a guaranteed outcome. It only signifies initial agreement, and further assessments or changes may still prevent final approval.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approval in principle" functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting a preliminary or conditional agreement, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

12.5%

Less common in

Academia

12.5%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approval in principle" signifies a preliminary agreement that is subject to further conditions or modifications. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used, though not excessively common. It appears most often in News & Media, Scientific, and Formal & Business contexts. When using this phrase, remember to clarify the conditions for full approval to avoid misunderstandings. Alternatives like "preliminary endorsement" or "conditional agreement" can be considered depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary endorsement

Emphasizes the initial and not yet final nature of the support.

conditional agreement

Highlights that the agreement is subject to certain conditions being met.

tentative consent

Focuses on the provisional and reversible nature of the consent.

initial backing

Stresses the beginning stage of support for a proposal or idea.

provisional acceptance

Indicates acceptance that is subject to further confirmation or changes.

qualified approval

Highlights that the approval comes with specific qualifications or reservations.

conceptual agreement

Focuses on agreement on the core concept, rather than detailed specifics.

basic endorsement

Emphasizes the fundamental level of support given.

early consent

Focuses on the timing of the consent, being at an early stage.

introductory acceptance

Indicates the acceptance is only at the introductory stage and not final.

FAQs

How to use "approval in principle" in a sentence?

You can use "approval in principle" to indicate a preliminary agreement, such as: "The project received "preliminary endorsement"" or "The plan has "conditional agreement" from the board".

What does "approval in principle" mean?

"Approval in principle" means that an agreement or plan is supported at a basic level, but further reviews, changes, or conditions must be met before it becomes fully approved. It signifies a "tentative consent" rather than a final decision.

Which is correct, "approval in principle" or "approved in principle"?

Both are correct but have different meanings. "Approval in principle" is a noun phrase referring to the preliminary agreement itself. "Approved in principle" is a verb phrase indicating that something has received preliminary agreement. For example, "The committee gave its approval in principle", versus "The proposal was approved in principle".

What can I say instead of "approval in principle"?

Alternatives include "preliminary endorsement", "conditional agreement", or "tentative consent". The best alternative depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.