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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
document was approved by
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "document was approved by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating who has given approval for a specific document, often in formal or official contexts. Example: "The final version of the report indicates that the document was approved by the board of directors."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
Alternative expressions(15)
document was prepared by
document was required by
document was handled by
document was verified by
document was praised by
document was initialed by
document was assembled by
document was described by
document was sold by
document was requested by
document was released by
document was mitigated by
document was carried by
document was created by
document was drafted by
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
11 human-written examples
After long and often difficult negotiations, a final version of the document was approved by Mr. Rumsfeld, the armed service chiefs and the regional war-fighting commanders about two weeks ago.
News & Media
In both cases, the language had been included in the party's 2008 platform but for some reason was excised from the 2012 platform when the document was drafted, and only noticed yesterday after the document was approved by the convention.
News & Media
The Unscear document he refers to was prepared by a single lead consultant with a handful of supporting individuals and the document was approved by nominees of the states which are subscribing members of Unscear – mostly those countries with an investment in nuclear power.
News & Media
Indeed, according to U.N. spokespersons, the outcome document was approved by a "consensus" of member states.
News & Media
The earlier document was approved by Morsi and opened the way for Islamic law to more firmly influence public life.
News & Media
The policy document was approved by City Council and included a section allowing supportive housing — which could mean sober-living facilities that don't require licensing — in single-family residential neighborhoods, which didn't sit well with residents.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
49 human-written examples
19 The protocol, informed consent, and privacy document were approved by the local ethical board.
The study protocol and subject informed consent document were approved by the Allendale Investigational Review Board, a central human investigation review board.
Science
The protocol and informed consent document were approved by the ethics committee of the Central Hospital of Xuzhou.
Science
The protocol and amendments, patient information leaflet and informed consent document were approved by independent ethics committees at all study centres, and also by the Spanish Ministry of Health.
Science
The study protocol and the consent document were approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from each patient or a legally designated representative.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using the phrase "document was approved by", ensure that the approving entity is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The policy document was approved by the City Council".
Common error
Avoid using "document was approved" without specifying which document is being referenced. Be precise and use the proper name or a clear description of the document, to avoid confusion.
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "document was approved by" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a document has undergone a process of evaluation and has been formally accepted by a specific entity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.
Frequent in
Science
50%
News & Media
50%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Academia
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "document was approved by" is a grammatically correct and usable passive construction that indicates a formal acceptance of a document by an entity. Ludwig AI analysis shows the phrase appears in professional and academic writing and Ludwig confirms its correctness. While examples are limited, its use spans across science and news contexts. For clarity, it's best practice to explicitly state the approving entity. Alternatives such as "document received approval from" or "document was ratified by" can be considered based on the specific nuance needed.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
document received approval from
Replaces the passive voice with an active voice construction.
document was ratified by
Substitutes "approved" with "ratified", suggesting formal confirmation.
document was sanctioned by
Replaces "approved" with "sanctioned", implying official authorization.
document secured approval from
Replaces 'was approved' with 'secured approval', suggesting an active effort to gain approval.
document gained acceptance by
Replaces "approved" with "gained acceptance", indicating a process of becoming accepted.
document met with approval from
Uses "met with approval" to express the positive reception of the document.
document was endorsed by
Substitutes "approved" with "endorsed", implying public support.
document passed review by
Replaces 'was approved' with 'passed review', focusing on the review process.
document was cleared by
Uses "cleared" instead of "approved", suggesting it passed a check.
document was authorized by
Replaces 'approved' with 'authorized', highlighting the act of granting authority.
FAQs
How can I use "document was approved by" in a sentence?
This phrase is used to indicate that a specific document has received formal approval from a person or entity. For example, "The budget proposal "document was approved by" the finance committee after revisions".
What are some alternatives to "document was approved by"?
You can use alternatives like "document received approval from", "document was ratified by", or "document was endorsed by" depending on the context.
Is it better to use active or passive voice with "document was approved by"?
Using the active voice (e.g., "The committee approved the document") can be more direct and concise. However, the passive voice ("The "document was approved by" the committee") is useful when the action is more important than the actor, or when the actor is already known or less relevant.
What's the difference between "document was approved by" and "document was reviewed by"?
"Document was reviewed by" indicates that a document was examined, while ""document was approved by"" means the document met the required standards and was formally accepted. A document can be reviewed without being approved.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested