approving of

USAGE SUMMARY

"approving of" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "The Board of Directors voted in favor, approving of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And approving of it?

The New York Times

He's not approving of them.

The New York Times

New York voters were significantly less approving of President Obama.

The New York Times

"He's a sly one," Nector said, approving of me, too.

The New Yorker

One can tolerate something without necessarily approving of it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Second, I thank you for approving of my brothers".

The New York Times

He was cautiously approving of the new biography.

The Guardian - Arts

Family members remembered approving of their relationships with the older working man.

The New York Times

Independents are slightly less approving of Congressional Republicans than Congressional Democrats.

The New York Times

He is not hugely approving of my deeming the Kate Middleton "a martini-style drink".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

To think that something sometimes works is not the same as approving of it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "approving of" to indicate agreement or satisfaction with a specific action, decision, or idea. It's particularly useful when expressing endorsement after careful consideration.

Common error

Avoid using "approve" in place of "approving of" when a preposition is needed to connect the verb to its object. "Approve" requires a direct object, while "approving of" correctly links the verb with a gerund or noun phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approving of" functions as a prepositional phrase often used to express agreement, support, or endorsement of a particular action, decision, or idea. It connects the subject with the object being approved, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "approving of" is a commonly used prepositional phrase to express agreement or endorsement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use in various contexts, particularly in news, media, and science. When writing, ensure you're using the correct preposition and consider alternatives like "in favor of" or "supportive of" depending on the desired nuance. Pay attention to common errors such as confusing "approve" with "approving of". By understanding its function, purpose, and register, you can effectively incorporate "approving of" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in agreement with

Highlights the alignment of opinions or beliefs.

giving approval to

Emphasizes the act of granting permission or acceptance.

in favor of

Indicates support for a proposal or action, often in a more formal setting.

supportive of

Suggests providing help or encouragement, implying a more active role.

on board with

Indicates enthusiastic agreement or willingness to participate.

endorsing

Implies a public declaration of support, often for a product or cause.

backing

Suggests providing support or resources, often in a competitive situation.

accepting of

Highlights tolerance or willingness to receive something.

sanctioning

Indicates official authorization or permission, often by a higher authority.

ratifying

Signifies formal confirmation or validation, typically in a legal or political context.

FAQs

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

Use "approving of" to show you agree with something or someone's actions. For example, "The manager was "approving of" the new marketing strategy".

What's a good alternative to "approving of"?

Alternatives include "in favor of", "supportive of", or "in agreement with", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "approve of" instead of "approving of"?

Yes, "approve of" is also correct. "Approving of" is the present participle form, used in continuous tenses or as an adjective, while "approve of" is the base form used in simple tenses.

What is the difference between "approving of" and "simply approving"?

"Approving of" focuses on the object being approved, as in "He was "approving of" the plan". "Simply approving" implies a straightforward act of giving approval, without necessarily specifying what is being approved, or it emphasizes the ease of approval.