approves to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approves to" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely a misuse of "approve of" or "approve for," which are the correct forms to express agreement or endorsement. Example: "The committee approves of the new policy changes."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"He then brings in the people he approves to execute the idea".

The New York Times - Arts

United Nations officials also say an environmental team is on emergency standby ready to go to China if the government approves, to assess possible dangers there.

The New York Times

Under the rallying cry of "home-brew", numerous tinkerers are engaged in an arms race with Sony which only wants games it approves to run on the little console.

The Economist

Mr. Menchini said the city could also decide to narrow the scope of the contracts it eventually approves to allow Verizon to continue to provide the 911 service, a huge system that connects police, fire, ambulance and other emergency services through a single number.

The New York Times

The administration wants me to have confidence in the stock market, and then it approves to a new board overseeing the accounting profession the appointment of a nice man with no pertinent experience (William H. Webster) while overlooking the guy (John H. Biggs) whose best reference is the fact that the accounting lobby doesn't want him!

The New York Times

If this intervention approves to be effective in raising the awareness of HPV and cervical cancer prevention among women, an increased attendance to cervical cancer screening might be achieved when such education is widely disseminated especially through the existed educational system led by China CDC.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

(Both were approved to fill facial wrinkles).

The New York Times

A "yes" was a vote to approve to the measure.

The New York Times

However, we struggle to get approved to rent properties.

The Guardian

Remicade is approved to treat Crohn's disease in children.

The New York Times

It is approved to treat genital warts, not genital herpes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "approve of" or "approve for" instead of "approves to" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. "Approve of" is used when you agree with something, while "approve for" is used when something meets the requirements.

Common error

Avoid using "approves to" as it is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are "approve of" or "approve for". For example, say "The manager approves of the new marketing strategy" instead of "The manager approves to the new marketing strategy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approves to" is generally not recognized as grammatically correct in standard English. Ludwig's AI indicates this incorrectness, and examples found are likely due to errors. When attempting to express agreement or endorsement, "approve of" is preferred. It appears that the instances of usage are typically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "approves to" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms the non-standard nature of this phrase. The correct and standard alternatives are "approve of", used to express agreement or endorsement, and "approve for", used to indicate suitability for a specific purpose. Although examples can be found in various sources like news and scientific publications, their presence typically reflects errors in writing or editing. It's crucial to avoid "approves to" in formal communication and opt for grammatically accurate alternatives. Remember to prioritize clear and correct language for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approves of

Changes the preposition to reflect standard English usage for expressing approval.

gives approval to

Replaces the verb with a phrase that emphasizes the action of granting approval.

authorizes

Uses a single verb to indicate formal permission.

sanctions

Implies official approval or endorsement.

endorses

Suggests strong support or recommendation.

agrees to

Indicates consent or acceptance of something.

consents to

Similar to 'agrees to' but may imply a more formal agreement.

permits

Offers a general term for allowing something.

licenses

Suggests granting a formal license or right.

ratifies

Indicates formal confirmation or validation.

FAQs

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

The verb "approve" is typically followed by the preposition "of" or "for", depending on the context. Say "I approve of your decision" or "This plan is approved for implementation", not "approve to".

What can I say instead of "approves to"?

Instead of "approves to", you can use phrases like "approves of", "agrees to", or "gives approval to" for better grammatical accuracy.

Is "approves to" grammatically correct?

No, "approves to" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct usage is "approves of" or uses a different construction such as "authorizes".

How does "approve of" differ from "approve for"?

"Approve of" expresses general agreement or endorsement (e.g., "I approve of your plan"), while "approve for" indicates that something meets specific requirements or is suitable for a particular purpose (e.g., "This loan is approved for renovations").