consent was sought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "consent was sought" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where permission or approval is requested from someone before proceeding with an action or decision. Example: "Before the project commenced, consent was sought from all stakeholders to ensure transparency and agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For urine collection, consent was sought from the male students.

International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture

Potential participants were then contacted by telephone approximately 2 weeks later, and verbal consent was sought.

Injury Epidemiology

Written informed consent was sought from participants aged ≥18 years and from parents or guardians for those aged <18 years.

EPJ Data Science

For the sexual behaviour survey individual written consent was sought.

Plosone

Oral consent was sought from a parent or guardian.

Plosone

Verbal informed consent was sought for the retail audit and mapping study.

Plosone

Verbal consent was sought from village leaders and heads of households.

Plosone

Patients were informed about the subsequent study procedures and informed consent was sought.

Plosone

Informed written consent was sought from all parents or guardians prior to recruitment of each child.

Plosone

Subsequently the consent was sought for all the newborns from these homesteads.

Plosone

Written consent was sought for all later studies, including the contact study.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When documenting research or procedures, clearly state whether "consent was sought" verbally or in writing to maintain transparency and ethical standards.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating that "consent was sought" and specifying the method (e.g., written, verbal) and from whom (e.g., participants, guardians) to ensure clarity and ethical compliance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "consent was sought" functions as a passive voice construction indicating that the action of seeking consent was performed. It highlights the procedural step of requesting permission, as demonstrated in Ludwig's numerous examples primarily from scientific sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "consent was sought" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase, primarily found in formal and scientific contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it denotes the act of requesting permission, emphasizing procedural transparency and ethical compliance. While alternatives like "permission was requested" and "approval was requested" exist, this phrase specifically highlights the action taken to obtain consent, rather than its outcome. When writing, ensure you clearly specify the method and source of consent to avoid ambiguity and maintain ethical standards in your documentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

informed consent was requested

Specifically refers to the process of seeking consent with full disclosure of relevant information.

permission was requested

Focuses on the act of asking for permission, highlighting the request rather than the obtaining of consent.

approval was requested

Emphasizes seeking formal approval, suggesting a more official or regulated context.

authorization was requested

Indicates seeking formal authorization, often in legal or official settings.

agreement was obtained

Highlights the successful acquisition of agreement, focusing on the outcome.

permission was granted

Focuses on the act of permission being given, rather than the seeking of it.

consent was obtained

Highlights that consent has been successfully achieved, instead of the act of seeking.

assent was sought

More commonly used in the context of children or individuals who cannot provide full consent, indicating agreement to participate.

clearance was obtained

Indicates formal permission or authorization has been granted, often for sensitive or regulated activities.

the go-ahead was given

Informal way of saying that permission has been granted to start or proceed with something.

FAQs

What's the difference between "consent was sought" and "consent was obtained"?

"Consent was sought" indicates the process of requesting permission, while "consent was obtained" implies that the permission was successfully granted. The former focuses on the action of seeking, and the latter focuses on the result.

What are some alternatives to "consent was sought"?

You can use alternatives such as "permission was requested", "approval was requested", or "informed consent was requested" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "consent was sought"?

It's appropriate to use "consent was sought" when describing the steps taken to gain permission or approval for a specific activity, especially in formal or research settings.

Is "consent was sought" formal or informal?

"Consent was sought" is considered a formal phrase, typically used in academic, medical, or legal contexts where precise and professional language is required.