clear to proceed

USAGE SUMMARY

"clear to proceed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to indicate an affirmative or positive sign. For example: The mission coordinator gave the team the go ahead, signaling it was "clear to proceed".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The Michigan testing is clear to proceed after state governor Rick Snyder signed into law legislation that allows expanded testing of autonomous vehicles on public roads by companies and organizations.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

An investigation by the War Department, now part of the Defense Department, found that the pilot "erred in judgment when he elected to fly over Manhattan in weather conditions which prevailed at the time" and that he should not have been cleared to proceed to Newark.

The New York Times

If a bidder is not cleared to proceed to the ownership vote, McCourt can ask a court-appointed mediator to intervene.

Los Angeles Times

Connecticut Execution Is Cleared to Proceed The United States Supreme Court rejected two last-minute efforts to postpone Connecticut's execution of a convicted serial killer, clearing the way for the first execution in New England in 45 years.

The New York Times

And in Seoul, the South Korean government was left struggling to find the right response, as President Lee Myung-bak found himself with no clear way to proceed despite his past vows to take a hard line against the North.

The New York Times

It should be watching very closely as the drama unfolds, and making every effort to support a constructive outcome by indicating its clear willingness to proceed along a constructive course if the United States is enabled to play its full part.

The Economist

Once they are diagnosed, they can go before this committee to clear them to proceed with surgeries that remove their reproductive organs, even if they don't want it.

HuffPost

To drill, baby, drill: Federal officials have conditionally cleared Shell to proceed with an ambitious oil and gas drilling plan in the U.S. Arctic.

The New Yorker

A settlement, even as large as $400 million, clears Merrill to proceed more easily in the emerging financial marketplace -- freed from having to go before shareholders and boards of directors of companies they might wish to acquire or join and provide guesses of their dollar exposure in Orange County and, again, explain their behavior.

The New York Times

"It's quite clear the government did not have a clear plan how to proceed on this and made it up as they went along," he said.

Independent

The result is that EPA now has a clear legal path to proceed with its ambitious plans to promulgate and implement regulations limiting the emission of greenhouse gases.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "clear to proceed" when you want to indicate that permission has been granted or that obstacles have been removed, allowing an action or plan to continue. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language.

Common error

While "clear to proceed" is generally acceptable, avoid overuse in very informal settings where simpler alternatives like "okay to go" or "go ahead" might be more appropriate. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clear to proceed" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying an implied subject, indicating that a subject (such as a person, project, or plan) has met the necessary conditions and is approved or ready to move forward. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

28%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clear to proceed" is a versatile phrase used to signal authorization, readiness, or permission for an action to begin or continue. Grammatically correct and widely accepted, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as an adjectival phrase. While its register is generally neutral, context dictates its appropriateness. It is commonly found in news, science, and academic sources. Alternatives such as "authorized to continue" or "given the green light" can be used to adjust the level of formality or emphasis. Remember to consider the audience and context when choosing between "clear to proceed" and its alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

authorized to continue

Replaces "clear" with a more formal term, implying official permission.

approved to go ahead

Emphasizes the aspect of formal approval before starting something.

permitted to advance

Focuses on the allowance to move forward, suitable for more structured situations.

given the green light

An idiomatic alternative, implying a signal to start or continue.

ready to commence

A more formal option, indicating readiness and the start of an activity.

free to act

Highlights the absence of restrictions preventing action.

entitled to start

Indicates a right or entitlement to begin an activity.

all systems go

An enthusiastic, informal expression signifying readiness.

no objections raised

Emphasizes the absence of opposition preventing progress.

road is open

A metaphorical expression indicating no obstacles are present.

FAQs

How can I use "clear to proceed" in a sentence?

You can use "clear to proceed" to indicate that something is ready to start or continue. For example, "Once the documents are signed, we are "clear to proceed" with the project".

What's a more formal way to say "clear to proceed"?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "authorized to continue" or "approved to go ahead", depending on the specific context.

Is "clear to proceed" the same as "go ahead"?

While similar, "clear to proceed" often implies a more formal clearance or removal of obstacles, whereas "go ahead" is a more general permission. The best choice depends on the specific situation and desired level of formality.

What are some alternatives to "clear to proceed" in project management?

In project management, you might use "given the green light", "approved", or "authorized" as alternatives to "clear to proceed".