authorized the action

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "authorized the action" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone giving official permission or approval for a specific action to be taken. Example: "The manager authorized the action to proceed with the project after reviewing the proposal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

An article on May 20 about a secret memorandum by the British government on the timing of President Bush's decision to go to war with Iraq misstated the date on which Congress authorized the action.

The New York Times

The White House press secretary, Ari Fleischer, said Mr. Bush authorized the action on Thursday and knew that it was about to begin even as he stepped off Air Force One at the airport in León around 9 a.m.

The New York Times

While highly critical of the NATO bombing campaign, which went beyond what it thought it had tacitly agreed to by refusing to veto the UN Security Council resolution in March which authorized the action, Russia has agreed to play a lead role in pushing longtime dictator Moammar Gaddafi to step down.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The Confederate government had authorized the actions of the Jefferson Davis and a handful of other privateers during the first weeks of the war.

The New York Times

Officials with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, while claiming they had not authorized the actions in Seattle and Tacoma, said the ports would reopen on Friday.

The New York Times

Judge Rea did not deal with the credibility of the plaintiff's claim that the department condoned and authorized the actions by the corrupt officers, but said that if those accusation were true, they would constitute racketeering activity and so would come under the RICO law.

The New York Times

On Jan . 26 last Thursday, Mr. Trump formally signed the memo authorizing the action, Mr. Spicer said.

The New York Times

Held : Section 232(b) authorizes the action taken by the President.

Cornell University

The Newspaper Guild of New York, which represents the employees, did not authorize the action, said the union's president, Barry F. Lipton.

The New York Times

While he did not directly ask for a resolution authorizing the action or concede that it was necessary, he expressed support for the idea of a legislative endorsement.

The New York Times

An administrative law judge at the S.E.C. dismissed it several months ago because only one commissioner had voted to authorize the action.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "authorized the action", ensure the context clearly indicates who granted the authorization and the scope of the action being authorized. Clarity prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "authorized the action" without specifying who did the authorizing and what specific action was authorized. This lack of detail can lead to confusion and misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "authorized the action" functions as a predicate, indicating that someone or some entity has given official permission or approval for a specific action to be taken. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "authorized the action" is a grammatically correct and usable expression indicating official permission or approval. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is most commonly found in News & Media and Academic contexts. While its frequency is relatively rare, several alternatives such as "approved the initiative" or "sanctioned the operation" can be used to convey similar meanings. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying who granted the authorization and what specific action was approved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approved the initiative

Replaces "action" with "initiative", suggesting a more proactive or strategic undertaking.

sanctioned the operation

Uses "sanctioned" for a formal authorization, often in military or governmental contexts.

gave the go-ahead for the plan

More informal, implies a final approval before execution.

endorsed the proposal

Suggests support and approval of a formally presented idea.

permitted the measure

A more formal and legalistic alternative to "authorized".

cleared the way for the move

Suggests removing obstacles to allow the action to proceed.

gave permission for the activity

More explicit and straightforward in stating that permission was granted.

validated the decision

Focuses on confirming the correctness or legitimacy of a choice.

licensed the undertaking

Implies a formal granting of a license or right to proceed.

empowered the implementation

Suggests giving the necessary power or authority to carry out the action.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "authorized the action"?

You can use alternatives like "approved the initiative", "sanctioned the operation", or "gave the go-ahead for the plan" depending on the context.

How do I use "authorized the action" in a sentence?

For example: "The manager "authorized the action" to proceed with the project after reviewing the proposal". Ensure you clearly state who is doing the authorizing and what specific action is being approved.

Is "authorized the action" formal or informal?

"Authorized the action" is generally considered neutral to formal. Its formality depends on the context. Consider alternatives like "gave the go-ahead for the plan" for more informal situations.

What's the difference between "authorized the action" and "approved the action"?

While similar, "authorized the action" often implies a more official or formal granting of permission, whereas "approved the initiative" can be a more general expression of agreement or endorsement.