had approval

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had approval" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone received permission or consent for something in the past. Example: "Before proceeding with the project, we ensured that we had approval from the management team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Within two weeks they had approval.

The New York Times

"I had approval to immigrate.

The New York Times

I would not have done this unless I had approval".

The New Yorker

At the time, he said, he had approval from government agencies.

The New York Times

Mr. Kinkade later had approval over the marketing materials but did not contribute to the designs.

The New York Times - Style

Both teams had approval of the commissioner's office for the shorter lines.

The New York Times - Sports

Evidence showed that Mr. Vilar never had approval to open the fund.

The New York Times - Arts

No singer, Mr. Volpe stated, not even Domingo or Pavarotti, had approval rights over production plans.

The New York Times

By contrast, Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan had approval ratings of around 60% at this stage of their second terms.

The Economist

RBS said it had approval from the Bank of England's regulation arm, the Prudential Regulatory Authority, for the move.

The Guardian - Business

They said they had approval from local authorities in Drogobych, a point that the authorities vehemently dispute.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had approval", clearly state who granted the approval to avoid ambiguity. For instance, "The project had approval from the board of directors".

Common error

Avoid using "had approval" when you actually mean "had endorsement". Approval means permission to proceed, while endorsement implies support or recommendation. Be precise with your word choice to accurately reflect the level of support.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had approval" functions as a past tense indicator of permission or consent. It shows that a subject previously possessed the necessary authorization. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had approval" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote that permission or consent was granted in the past. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is considered correct for use in English writing. It appears across various contexts, including news, science, and business, with the majority of examples stemming from news and media sources. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying who granted the approval. Alternatives such as "received authorization" or "obtained permission" may be used depending on the desired nuance. The prevalence and varied applications of "had approval" solidify its place as a versatile and valuable component of English communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received authorization

Focuses on the act of getting formal permission, instead of possessing it.

obtained permission

Highlights the action of acquiring permission, suggesting an effort was made.

was granted consent

Emphasizes the act of giving permission by another party.

possessed the green light

Uses a metaphor to indicate that permission to proceed was given.

was cleared to proceed

Indicates that obstacles were removed and permission to move forward was given.

was sanctioned

Suggests a formal endorsement or authorization.

had the go-ahead

Informal way to say permission to start something was given.

was permitted

Highlights that something was allowed.

secured endorsement

Implies active work to receive approval from some authority.

gained the imprimatur

A more formal and somewhat archaic way to indicate official approval.

FAQs

How do I use "had approval" in a sentence?

You can use "had approval" to indicate that someone received permission or consent for something in the past. For example, "The company "had approval" from the government to build the new factory".

What can I say instead of "had approval"?

You can use alternatives like "received authorization", "obtained permission", or "was granted consent" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "have approval" instead of "had approval"?

While "have approval" is grammatically correct, "had approval" indicates that the approval occurred in the past. Use "have approval" to express current permission, and "had approval" for past permission.

What's the difference between "had approval" and "was approved"?

"Had approval" implies that someone possessed the permission, while "was approved" emphasizes the action of granting permission. For example, "The plan "had approval" from the manager" versus "The plan "was approved" by the manager".