approves that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approves that" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the verb "approve" should be followed by a noun or gerund, not "that." Example: "The committee approves the proposal."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

You bet I do.' He approves that message with a click of his mouse and off it flies, to wait, in hope, with all the others.

The Guardian

If a majority of shareholders approves that measure, then a year later, the shareholders would be given an opportunity to vote on alternative board members.

The New York Times

"Assuming the president approves that, the details of how that will work out probably involve quite bit of work to be done," Mr. Ziglar said at a luncheon speech.

The New York Times

Yet Rennes, having felt short-changed from the sale of their last big discovery Yann M'Vila – now on loan at Sunderland from the Russians Rubin Kazan – for just €12m in 2013, appear ready to cash in this time – as long as Fatimata approves, that is.

The Guardian - Sport

The negative value of Gibbs free energy approves that adsorption of above-mentioned adsorbates is a spontaneous process.

Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry

Show me the language in this bill which approves that".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"She never approved that image.

The New Yorker

Congress should approve that assistance.

The New York Times

Congress did not approve that plan.

The New York Times - Tech

Jacob Chol Dau, 19, said he was approved that same month.

The New York Times

The whole board of News Corp. approved that deal".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "approves that". Instead, rephrase your sentence to use "approves of" or directly state what is being approved. For example, instead of "The committee approves that plan", write "The committee approves of the plan" or "The committee approves the plan".

Common error

A common mistake is using "approve" followed directly by a "that" clause. "Approve" typically takes a noun or gerund as its object. To correct this, either use "approve of" before the noun or rephrase the sentence to avoid the "that" clause altogether. For example, don't say "He approves that the project moves forward"; instead, say "He approves of the project moving forward" or "He approves the project's advancement".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approves that" functions incorrectly as it attempts to link the verb "approve" directly to a subordinate clause introduced by "that". According to Ludwig AI, the verb "approve" should typically be followed by a noun or a gerund, not a "that" clause.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "approves that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms that "approve" should typically be followed by a noun or gerund, not a "that" clause. While the phrase appears in a variety of contexts, primarily in news and scientific articles, it is recommended to use alternatives such as "approves of" or to rephrase the sentence for better clarity and grammatical accuracy. Correcting this phrase enhances the overall quality and credibility of writing, especially in formal and professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

supports that

Indicates active encouragement or backing of something.

agrees to that

Focuses on reaching a consensus or accord regarding something.

endorses that

Highlights public support or recommendation of something.

affirms that

Stresses a declaration of truth or confirmation of something.

ratifies that

Emphasizes formal approval or confirmation of something.

consents to that

Highlights voluntary agreement or permission for something.

sanctions that

Suggests official permission or authorization for something.

authorizes that

Highlights granting official power or right to do something.

validates that

Emphasizes confirming the accuracy or legitimacy of something.

upholds that

Indicates support for maintaining or defending something.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use the verb "approve"?

The verb "approve" is typically followed by a noun or a gerund. It can also be used with the preposition "of" before a noun phrase. Avoid directly following "approve" with "that."

What can I say instead of "approves that"?

Instead of "approves that", you can use alternatives like "approves of", "endorses", or "ratifies" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "approves that" or "approves of that"?

"Approves of that" is grammatically correct, while "approves that" is generally considered incorrect. The preposition "of" is needed to correctly link "approve" with the "that" clause.

How can I rephrase a sentence that incorrectly uses "approves that"?

Rephrase the sentence to use a noun or gerund after "approve". For example, change "The committee approves that the proposal is accepted" to "The committee approves the acceptance of the proposal" or "The committee approves of the proposal's acceptance".