had authorized

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had authorized" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that permission or approval was given in the past, often before another past event. Example: "The committee had authorized the funding before the project was officially announced."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A 1986 presidential finding had authorized worldwide covert action against terrorism and probably provided adequate authority.

The Washington Post

Paulson acknowledged to Bernanke that he had authorized the comments.

The New Yorker

Brazilian telecommunications regulators had authorized the facility, he said.

The New York Times

Lincoln had authorized that route, way back in 1862.

The New York Times

President Obama had authorized the operation, the official said.

The Washington Post

Chernomyrdin subsequently denied that Moscow had authorized the shipment.

The New Yorker

Dr. Reiner said that Mr. Cheney's family had authorized him to speak to a reporter.

The New York Times

The Administration twice refused to tell Jane Harman whether the President had authorized the program.

The New York Times

May has said that she didn't know that Clark had authorized the less vigorous checks.

The New Yorker

Neither Ms. Le Guin nor her publisher had authorized the electronic editions.

The New Yorker

The bank confirmed Friday that it had authorized the loan to Saab.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had authorized" to clearly indicate that permission or approval was granted before a specific event in the past. This helps establish a clear sequence of events and causality in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "had authorized" when referring to present or future actions. This phrase specifically indicates a past action that has already been completed. Use "authorizes" or "will authorize" for present and future contexts, respectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had authorized" functions as the past perfect form of the verb "authorize". It indicates that an action of granting permission or approval occurred before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. For example, "President Obama had authorized the operation."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had authorized" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that signifies the act of granting permission or approval prior to a specific event in the past. According to Ludwig AI, its correct usage is confirmed by numerous examples drawn from authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Washington Post. The phrase is versatile and suitable for news, formal business, and encyclopedia contexts. When using "had authorized", it's crucial to maintain proper tense and clarify which event occurred before the present moment in time. Related phrases like "had permitted" or "had approved" can serve as alternatives depending on the specific nuance desired. Ludwig's analysis suggests that careful attention to context enhances the accuracy and impact of written communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had permitted

Replaces "authorized" with a more general term for allowing something.

had approved

Suggests a more formal endorsement or agreement than "authorized".

had sanctioned

Implies official permission, often with a sense of formality or enforcement.

had endorsed

Suggests public support or recommendation, in addition to authorization.

had commissioned

Indicates that someone was officially instructed to do something.

had licensed

Specifically refers to granting a formal license or permission.

had delegated

Implies that authority was passed on to someone else.

had empowered

Suggests giving someone the power or ability to do something.

had cleared

Indicates that an action was officially approved after a review.

had given the go-ahead

An idiomatic expression meaning that permission was granted to begin an action.

FAQs

How is "had authorized" used in a sentence?

The phrase "had authorized" indicates that someone gave permission or approval for something to happen before a specific point in the past. For example, "The president "had authorized" the mission before the public announcement."

What are some alternatives to "had authorized"?

You can use alternatives like "had permitted", "had approved", or "had sanctioned" depending on the context.

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

"Authorized" implies a present or general permission, while ""had authorized"" indicates that the authorization occurred before a certain point in the past. For example, "He is authorized to sign checks" vs "He "had authorized" the payment last week".

Is it correct to say "has authorized" instead of "had authorized"?

The choice between "has authorized" and ""had authorized"" depends on the context and the timeline you are describing. "Has authorized" connects the authorization to the present, while ""had authorized"" refers to an action completed in the past before another past event.