had approved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had approved" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about a past event that has already been completed. For example: "The board had approved the project proposal before we could begin."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ms. Myers had approved the quotas.

The New York Times

Oprah and HGTV had approved it.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, Wrocław University Hospital had approved the brain operation.

The New Yorker

Only eight had approved them unconditionally.

The New York Times

President Bush had approved the plan.

The New York Times

The Red Cross had approved only one.

The New York Times

He also said Mr. Chávez had approved the talks.

The New York Times

Sure, Bush ultimately boasted that he had approved torture.

The New York Times

A state court in Mississippi had approved the arrangement.

The New York Times

Allain's phone vibrated: the commission had approved the deal.

The New Yorker

Rudd had approved of the Fort Dix operation.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had approved" to clearly indicate that an action of approval occurred before another event in the past. This helps maintain clarity in the sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using "has approved" when you are referring to an approval that occurred and was completed entirely in the past. "Had approved" correctly situates the approval before another past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had approved" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating an action of approval that was completed before another event in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically sound and clearly communicates a sequence of past actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had approved" is a grammatically correct and frequently used past perfect verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage for indicating a completed action of approval before another past event. It's prevalent in news, science, and formal business contexts. For alternative phrasing, consider "gave authorization", "granted permission", or "signed off on", depending on the desired level of formality. Remember to use "had approved" when the timing of the approval relative to another past action is significant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

granted permission

Replaces "approved" with "granted permission", emphasizing the act of allowing something.

authorized the action

Similar to "gave authorization" but uses "action" instead of a more general term.

gave authorization

Uses a different verb ("gave" instead of "approved") and a noun ("authorization" instead of "approved").

endorsed the decision

Focuses on supporting a decision rather than a general approval.

sanctioned the plan

Implies a formal or official approval, often by an authority.

validated the process

Emphasizes confirming the legitimacy or correctness of a process.

signed off on

An informal expression meaning to give final approval.

had given the green light

Uses an idiomatic expression for approval, suggesting a go-ahead signal.

had no objection to

Indicates approval by absence of disapproval.

concurred with the view

Shows agreement with an opinion or perspective.

FAQs

How do I use "had approved" correctly in a sentence?

Use "had approved" to show that an approval took place before another event in the past. For example, "The committee "had approved" the budget before the project began."

What is a good alternative to "had approved"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "gave authorization", "granted permission", or "signed off on".

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

"Had approved" indicates the past perfect tense, showing an action completed before another past action. "Approved" is simple past, indicating an action completed at a specific time in the past.

Is it ever correct to say "has approved" instead of "had approved"?

Yes, "has approved" is correct when referring to an action completed at some point before the present. However, if you're discussing two past events and want to show one preceded the other, "had approved" is more accurate.