approval was given

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approval was given" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that permission or consent has been granted for a particular action or decision. Example: "After careful consideration, approval was given for the new project to proceed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Final approval was given Saturday morning.

The New York Times

Ethical approval was given by the medical ethics committee.

Nature

Ultimately, approval was given for just four stores.

The New York Times

Approval was given to 44,900, down 38percentt.

The New York Times

Approval was given for further strikes if necessary.

The Guardian

Final approval was given by the current executive editor, Bill Keller.

The New York Times

"The approval was given on the basis that 150% offsetting can be achieved.

The Guardian

Ethical approval was given from our local research ethics committee.

Gynecological Surgery

Approval was given after a debate in Tynwald on Tuesday.

BBC

An amended approval was given on April 15.

Wikipedia

No picking up of the rifle even until approval was given.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "approval was given" in contexts where a formal decision or permission has been officially granted. It's suitable for reports, official communications and academic writing.

Common error

Avoid using "approval was given" in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "I agreed" or "they said yes" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approval was given" functions as a passive construction, indicating that approval was received from an unspecified agent. As Ludwig AI points out, this construction is used across various contexts to denote authorization or permission.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

28%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approval was given" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's employed to denote that authorization or permission has been granted, often in formal contexts. While versatile, it's best suited for formal or neutral settings rather than casual conversations. Alternative phrases like "permission was granted" or "authorization was obtained" can be used to vary the phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permission was granted

Replaces "approval" with "permission" and "given" with "granted", maintaining the same meaning.

authorization was obtained

Uses more formal terms, "authorization" and "obtained", indicating a more official context.

consent was provided

Substitutes "approval" with "consent" and "given" with "provided", suggesting agreement or assent.

clearance was issued

Emphasizes the act of officially releasing or authorizing something.

the green light was given

An idiomatic expression meaning permission to proceed with something.

sanction was conferred

Implies a formal or authoritative approval, often used in legal or official contexts.

the go-ahead was received

Indicates that permission to start or continue something has been obtained.

the thumbs up was given

An informal way to say that approval or encouragement was provided.

assent was registered

A formal term meaning agreement or approval was officially recorded.

the okay was given

An informal way to express that permission was granted.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "approval was given"?

You can use alternatives like "permission was granted", "authorization was obtained", or "consent was provided" depending on the context.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "approval was given"?

The phrase "approval was given" is appropriate in formal settings, such as academic papers, legal documents, or official reports, where it's necessary to convey that permission or authorization has been officially granted.

What is the difference between "approval was given" and "permission was given"?

While both phrases are similar, "approval was given" often implies a more formal or official endorsement, whereas "permission was given" can be used in more general contexts to indicate consent.

Is "approval was given" passive voice?

Yes, "approval was given" is a passive construction. The active form would be something like "the committee gave approval".