conferred authority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conferred authority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the power or rights granted to someone, often in a formal or legal context. Example: "The committee conferred authority upon the new director to make decisions regarding budget allocations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

What executive orders cannot do is impose obligations or restrictions on the public, unless Congress, through legislation, has expressly or implicitly conferred authority on the president to do so.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But self-parody can also confer authority.

The New Yorker

The marketplace of ideas, indeed, often confers authority through mere repetition – in science as well as in political campaigning.

The Guardian

The sheer inappropriateness of the vessel, the breathtaking audacity of the messenger, can oddly confer authority on an idea.

The New York Times

The Sunday talk shows confer authority to those in politics, but we, as the consumers, give power to the Sunday shows.

The New York Times

"It may be a distance of only three to four feet, but you need to establish a demarcation somehow, although the compere helps and the stage itself confers authority".

The Guardian

It's easy to see where the impulse to conflate "Greek history" with "Classical Greek history" comes from: appeals to Thucydides or Plato can confer authority in real-world decision-making.

The New Yorker

Inspired by the Lex Regia, the supposed right of the Roman people to confer authority on the emperor, he announced that the citizens of his own day, under his leadership, could assume that right and resolve all disputes between rival claimants to the office.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The stroke of genius of its two founders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, was the PageRank algorithm, which treated the links to web pages as votes conferring authority, just as the best academic papers tend to get the most citations in other research.

The Economist

So the implication is the government is filling a statutory gap that Congress has either failed to consider or specifically chosen not to confer authority for.

TechCrunch

But it is precisely this citing of the norm as authoritative which confers authority upon the norm (1993, 13).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "conferred authority", clearly state who is conferring the authority and upon whom it is being conferred to avoid ambiguity. This makes the context precise.

Common error

Avoid using "conferred authority" when describing power that someone possesses naturally or by virtue of their position. "Conferred authority" specifically refers to authority that has been granted by an external source, not authority that is intrinsic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conferred authority" functions as a noun phrase, where "conferred" acts as a past participle modifying "authority". According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and signifies the state of having been granted power or right. This contrasts with inherent or assumed authority.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

23%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Wiki

6%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "conferred authority" signifies the act of formally granting power or right to someone or something. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. While it appears in a range of contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications, it generally maintains a neutral to formal register. Remember to use "conferred authority" when the power is explicitly granted and avoid confusing it with inherent authority. Alternatives such as ""granted authority"" or "delegated authority" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

granted authority

Indicates a direct act of bestowing power or permission.

bestowed authority

Similar to 'granted', but often implies a more formal or ceremonial act of giving authority.

delegated authority

Highlights the act of transferring authority from one entity to another.

vested authority

Implies that authority is legally or formally assigned to someone.

empowered to act

Focuses on the resulting state of having the ability and permission to take action.

given jurisdiction

Specifically refers to granting legal power or control within a certain area.

invested with power

Highlights the act of endowing someone with the capacity to influence or control.

authorized to proceed

Emphasizes the permission given to carry out a particular action or task.

licensed to operate

Indicates formal approval and permission to function within a specific domain.

accredited to perform

Suggests that someone has been officially recognized as qualified to carry out certain duties.

FAQs

How to use "conferred authority" in a sentence?

You can use "conferred authority" in sentences like, "The board of directors "granted authority" to the CEO to negotiate the merger" or "The constitution "vested authority" in the president to declare war".

What can I say instead of "conferred authority"?

You can use alternatives like ""granted authority"", "delegated authority", or "bestowed authority depending on the context".

Which is correct, "conferred authority" or "conferring authority"?

"Conferred authority" is used to describe authority that has already been granted. "Conferring authority" describes the act of granting authority. The correct choice depends on the context of your sentence.

What is the difference between "conferred authority" and "inherent authority"?

"Conferred authority" is authority that is granted by an external source. "Inherent authority" is authority that someone possesses naturally or by virtue of their position. For instance, a parent has inherent authority over their child, while a manager has conferred authority over their team.