approve on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approve on" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct phrase is "approve of," which is used to express agreement or acceptance of something. Example: "I fully approve of the new policy changes that have been proposed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Under the Regents' proposal, which the board is expected to approve on Tuesday and does not need the approval of the State Legislature, Teach for America and similar groups could create their own master's programs, and the Regents would award the master's degree, two powers that are now the sole domain of academia.

The New York Times

Looking at the racks, Sigmund would approve on a number of counts.

The New York Times - Magazine

Why would lawmakers approve on a fourth vote that which they have rejected three times before?

The Washington Post

The Board of Estimates is scheduled to receive the final contract, which it is expected to approve, on Wednesday.

The New York Times

But the proposal, which the city's Art Commission is poised to approve on Tuesday, has raised a few questions.

The New York Times

This year's budget, which parliament was due to approve on January 23rd, promises another big deficit perhaps 5-6% of GDP, after 4.8% last year.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

The days in Tacoma were spent trying (and failing) to get the Rangers' public affairs office to approve on-post access.

The New York Times

The changes were approved on Saturday.

The Guardian

The study was approved on Wednesday.

The New York Times

The board was approved on May 19 and announced on Friday.

The New York Times

The amendments were abruptly approved on Thursday by the Yugoslav Parliament.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "approve of" instead of "approve on" to ensure grammatical correctness. The preposition "of" is essential for this expression to be standard English.

Common error

Avoid using other prepositions like "in", "at", or omitting the preposition entirely. Only "approve of" is grammatically sound. For example, don't say "I approve in this plan"; say "I "approve of" this plan".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approve on" functions as a prepositional phrase, though it is grammatically incorrect. It attempts to express agreement or acceptance, similar to the correct phrase ""approve of"". As Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Academia

31%

Science

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "approve on" appears frequently across various sources, including news and academic content, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""approve of"". Ludwig AI confirms that "approve on" is non-standard. To ensure clear and correct communication, especially in professional writing, always use ""approve of"" or consider alternatives like "endorse" or "support" for expressing agreement or approval.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approve of

This is the grammatically correct and most direct replacement for "approve on", indicating general agreement or acceptance.

endorse

Implies a more formal or public declaration of approval or support.

support

Suggests active backing or advocacy for something.

ratify

Signifies formal confirmation or sanctioning, often in legal or official contexts.

sanction

Implies official permission or authorization.

accede to

Suggests reluctantly agreeing or giving in to something.

consent to

Indicates giving permission or agreement for something to happen.

give the nod to

An informal way of saying to give approval or authorization.

give the go-ahead to

Implies granting permission for something to proceed.

sign off on

Suggests final approval or authorization, often involving a signature.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say you agree with something: "approve on" or "approve of"?

The correct phrase is ""approve of"". "Approve on" is grammatically incorrect. For example, "I "approve of" your decision" is correct.

Is "approve on" ever correct in English?

No, "approve on" is not considered correct in standard English. The correct usage is ""approve of"".

What can I say instead of "approve on"?

Use ""approve of"" or alternatives like "endorse", "support", or "ratify" depending on the context.

How do I use ""approve of"" in a sentence?

"Approve of" is used to express agreement or acceptance. For example, "The committee "approved of" the new regulations".