approval is sought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approval is sought" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are making a formal request for permission or acceptance for something, or when you are asking for agreement from an authority. For example: "The research proposal has been submitted and approval is sought from the Research Committee before proceeding."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Approval is sought.

Harvard Business Review

More approval is sought.

Harvard Business Review

A document on the mayor's policing and crime website states: "Following the mayoral consultation, approval is sought to purchase three water cannon with immediate effect.

The Guardian

The advisory opinion, issued Nov. 30, does not address the Coney Island plan directly, but contends that an environmental impact review, a process that could take a year or more, is required for any change in public parkland to nonpark use, and must be completed before state approval is sought.

The New York Times

The public will have their say on the plans before approval is sought for a similar project in Tywyn.

BBC

Divorce takes place by mutual consent and legal approval is sought.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Ethical approval was sought and approved by both the University of California at Berkeley (Approval #: 2011-01-2722) and the Ministry of Health in Cambodia through the Population Council.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

The study was approved by the Lower Saxony State Office of Consumer Security and Food Safety (33-42502-05/950), the ethicapprovalval was sought from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover.

BMC Cancer

Then parental approval was sought.

The New York Times

Local ethical approval was sought from the NHS Health Research Authority (15/LO/2069).

Nature

Board approval was sought, but only after the key decisions had already been made.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "approval is sought", clearly state what you need approval for to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "approval is sought" in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for simpler phrases like "I need approval" or "I'm asking for permission" in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approval is sought" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone is in the process of requesting or trying to obtain official permission or agreement for something. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "approval is sought" is a grammatically sound and usable expression for formally requesting permission or agreement, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not exceptionally common, it is found across various domains, including science, news media, and formal business contexts. It is most suitable for formal and professional settings, and should be used judiciously in informal contexts. Remember to clearly articulate the subject of the approval to prevent ambiguity. The best practice is to reserve it for situations that genuinely require a formal tone and a clear indication that a request is in progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Permission is requested

Replaces "approval" with "permission" and uses "requested" instead of "sought", emphasizing the act of formally asking.

Authorization is required

Substitutes "approval" with "authorization" and "sought" with "required", highlighting the necessity of gaining authorization.

Consent is needed

Replaces "approval" with "consent" and "sought" with "needed", focusing on the need for agreement or permission.

Endorsement is desired

Uses "endorsement" instead of "approval" and "desired" for "sought", suggesting a wish for support or validation.

Clearance is being pursued

Replaces "approval" with "clearance" and rephrases "is sought" as "is being pursued", indicating an active effort to obtain clearance.

Sanction is being sought

Uses "sanction" instead of "approval", which implies seeking official permission or authorization, especially from a governing body.

A green light is needed

Replaces the entire phrase with a more informal expression indicating the need for permission to proceed.

Agreement is being pursued

Focuses on the need for an agreement to be actively pursued.

A request for approval is made

This alternative emphasizes the action of making the request explicit.

A nod is desired

Similar to "a green light", this idiom indicates informal permission or agreement.

FAQs

How can I use "approval is sought" in a sentence?

Use "approval is sought" when you are formally requesting permission or agreement. For example, "Before implementing the new strategy, approval is sought from the board of directors."

What's a more straightforward way to say "approval is sought"?

In less formal contexts, you can use phrases like "permission is needed", or "we need approval".

Is it better to use "approval is sought" or "approval was sought"?

Use "approval is sought" when the request is current. Use "approval was sought" when referring to a past request.

What is the difference between "approval is sought" and "approval is required"?

"Approval is sought" implies an active request for permission, while "approval is required" states that approval is a necessary condition. The first focuses on the action of asking, the second on the necessity of having approval.