approving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a positive acknowledgment or endorsement of something. Example: "The committee is currently in the process of approving the new policy changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You can read the MOU here (pdf), which states: Consistent with the objects of the MoU, Queensland will become responsible for assessing projects for the purpose of the EPBC Act to reduce duplication between jurisdictions, and - within 12 months - approving projects, when an approval bilateral agreement has been signed.

The Guardian

Furthermore, a deal-approval sheet from July 2000 has come to light, showing Mr Skilling approving the sale of $10m of Enron's holdings in European power plants to another of the controversial partnerships.Yet another deal-approval sheet from June 2000 bore Mr Lay's signature.

The Economist

Furthermore, a deal-approval sheet from July 2000 has come to light, showing Mr Skilling approving the sale of $10m of Enron's holdings in European power plants to another of the controversial partnerships.Yet another deal-approval sheet from June 2000 bore the signature of Kenneth Lay, Enron's former chairman and chief executive.

The Economist

If the home secretary is told this is going to happen and she does not intervene, then she's approving it.

The Guardian

The US joined other UN security council members in lining up to pour scorn on a resolution drafted by Moscow approving the truce.

The Guardian

As Dunne says, this is about protecting citizens, not approving drugs.

The Guardian - Opinion

Peston's hair has acquired its own Twitter account and attracted approving commentary in Fleet Street's fashion pages (in this paper, Imogen Fox described his new look as "Mikhail Baryshnikov circa White Nights meets the autumn/winter 2015 Raf Simons catwalk") and comparisons with everyone from Hugh Grant to Tim Burgess of the Charlatans.

The Guardian

Otter also said it was "totally unacceptable" that many senior officers who were responsible for approving undercover operations were not trained properly or did not have experience in covert work.

The Guardian

It instead merely provides the general guidelines which it claims are used by its analysts to determine which individuals they can target, and the Fisa court judge then issues a simple order approving those guidelines.

The Guardian - Opinion

As but one typical example, the Guardian has obtained an August 19, 2010, Fisa court approval from Judge John Bates which does nothing more than recite the statutory language in approving the NSA's guidelines.

The Guardian - Opinion

Moreover, the deal must be ratified by all 28 government chiefs in the council of ministers, by no means a foregone conclusion: Greece's new ruling party Syriza has warned it has no intention of approving the pact.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "approving" when you want to convey that someone is giving consent or agreement to a proposal, action, or idea. It indicates a positive judgment or endorsement.

Common error

Avoid using "approving" when simple acknowledgement or agreement is sufficient. "Approving" carries a stronger connotation of endorsement and positive evaluation, which might not always be appropriate. For example, instead of saying "He was approving of the weather", it is better to say "He liked the weather."

Linguistic Context

The word "approving" functions primarily as a present participle of the verb "approve", often used in continuous verb tenses or as an adjective. As Ludwig AI highlights, it describes the action of giving consent or favorable consideration.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

21%

Science

21%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approving" is a versatile term used to express endorsement or permission. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in English. Predominantly found in News & Media, and Formal & Business contexts, it maintains a neutral to formal register. When writing, use "approving" to convey endorsement or consent, but be cautious not to overuse it where a simple agreement suffices. Consider alternatives such as "authorizing" or "endorsing" for more specific nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Authorizing

Similar to "approving", but often implies a formal or legal permission.

Endorsing

Implies public support or recommendation, a stronger affirmation than "approving".

Sanctioning

Suggests official permission or endorsement, often in the context of rules or regulations.

Okaying

A more informal synonym for "approving", suitable for casual contexts.

Ratifying

Indicates formal confirmation or validation, often used in legal or political contexts.

Consenting to

Implies agreement or permission, often in response to a request or proposal.

Giving the green light to

An idiomatic expression meaning to give permission or approval for something to proceed.

Giving assent to

A formal way of saying "agreeing" or "approving", often used in legal or official contexts.

Giving the go-ahead to

Similar to "giving the green light", this phrase means to grant permission for something to start.

In agreement with

Expresses concurrence or alignment with a plan, idea, or decision, indicating a form of "approving" through shared perspective.

FAQs

How can I use "approving" in a sentence?

You can use "approving" to describe someone who is giving permission or showing agreement, such as, "The manager was "approving the budget"", or, "She gave an "approving nod"".

What are some alternatives to "approving"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "approving" include "endorsing", "authorizing", "sanctioning", or simply "agreeing with".

Is there a difference between "approving of" and "approving"?

"Approving of" is used when you want to indicate that someone has a positive opinion or sentiment toward something, while "approving" is used when someone is giving formal consent or authorization. For example, "He was "approving of the plan"" versus "He was "approving the proposal"".

When is it more suitable to use "authorizing" instead of "approving"?

Use "authorizing" when the context involves granting official permission or legal power for something to occur, it is more formal than "approving". For instance, "The CEO is "authorizing the transaction"", implies a formal grant of power.