approve a plan

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approve a plan" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the process of giving formal consent or agreement to a proposed plan or strategy. Example: "The committee will meet next week to approve a plan for the new community project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The F.A.A. is expected to approve a plan next week to start testing the possible fixes.

The New York Times

And the failure to approve a plan would set off a series of automatic cuts.

The New York Times

Here they are being asked to approve a plan that, in effect, starts from scratch.

The Guardian - Business

He called on the federal government to approve a plan to build sand berms to protect the bayou country.

The New York Times

Albany must approve a plan within 90 days of convening next year, meaning roughly the end of March.

The New York Times

The leaders are hoping, by April 15, to approve a plan to reunify, one union official said.

The New York Times

In a bankruptcy proceeding, a court could approve a plan to deal with claims against Andersen, helping to protect Deloitte.

The New York Times

Next week, Israel's prime minister intends to ask his parliament to approve a plan to evacuate all of the Jewish settlements Israel has established in the Gaza strip.

The Economist

Three-quarters of the board of governors must approve a transfer of ownership, but only a simple majority vote is needed to approve a plan to relocate.

The New York Times - Sports

He persuaded Argentina's Congress to approve a plan to balance the budget this year, partly through cuts of up to 13% in public-sector salaries and pensions.

The Economist

Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, said that the United Nations Security Council should be given days — not weeks — to approve a plan to secure the weapons.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about formal approvals, use "approve a plan" to convey that a decision has been officially sanctioned by an authorized entity.

Common error

Avoid using "accept a plan" when you mean to convey formal endorsement or sanction. "Accept" implies receiving or agreeing to something, while "approve" indicates official permission or authorization.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approve a plan" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun phrase. It describes the action of giving official consent or authorization to a specific proposal or strategy, as supported by the examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approve a plan" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the formal act of giving consent or authorization to a proposal. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in a variety of contexts, most notably in news and media, but also in formal business settings. For alternative expressions, consider options like "ratify a plan" or "endorse a plan". When writing, remember that "approve" implies a level of official sanction, distinguishing it from simply "accepting" a plan. Thus, understanding these nuances is crucial for precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ratify a plan

Implies formal consent or validation, often by a governing body.

endorse a plan

Suggests public support or recommendation of the plan.

authorize a plan

Focuses on granting official permission for the plan to proceed.

adopt a plan

Highlights the act of formally accepting and implementing the plan.

sanction a plan

Implies giving official approval, often with a sense of authority or enforcement.

validate a plan

Emphasizes confirming the plan's legitimacy or correctness.

give the green light to a plan

An idiomatic expression meaning to give permission for a plan to proceed.

sign off on a plan

Suggests final approval or agreement, often after review.

bless a plan

Implies bestowing approval or favor upon the plan, often in a more informal context.

OK a plan

An informal way of saying to approve or give permission for a plan.

FAQs

What does it mean to "approve a plan"?

To "approve a plan" means to officially agree to it, giving it the go-ahead for implementation. It suggests that the plan has been reviewed and deemed acceptable by an authority or relevant body.

What can I say instead of "approve a plan"?

You can use alternatives like "ratify a plan", "endorse a plan", or "authorize a plan" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "accept a plan" instead of "approve a plan"?

While "accept a plan" isn't grammatically incorrect, it doesn't carry the same meaning as "approve a plan". "Accept" implies agreement or willingness to go along with something, whereas "approve" signifies formal endorsement or authorization.

Who typically "approves a plan"?

The entity that "approves a plan" varies depending on the context. It could be a committee, a board of directors, a government agency, or any other authorized body with the power to give official consent.