had been approved

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about something that was approved in the past. Example: His application for the job had been approved, so he was able to start work the following week.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The appeal had been approved.

The New York Times - Sports

Almost none had been approved.

The New York Times

Oregón had been approved.

The New Yorker

The loan had been approved.

The New York Times

The new meters had been approved.

The New York Times - Tech

By midnight the pardon had been approved.

The New York Times

Within six months, they had been approved.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The NTSC confirmed its grant had been approved.

The Guardian

The legislation had been approved by both houses of Parliament.

The New York Times

The good news: They had been approved as renters.

The New York Times

The drug had been approved by the F.D.A.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been approved", ensure the sentence clearly indicates who granted the approval and when it occurred in relation to another past event. This provides context and clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "had been approved" when the approval is a recent or ongoing event. Use "has been approved" or "was approved" instead to reflect the appropriate time frame.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been approved" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that a particular action (approval) was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been approved" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect passive construction, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its primary function is to indicate that an action or decision was authorized before another event in the past. The phrase exhibits a neutral register and is suitable for diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia. When using this phrase, ensure the sentence structure clearly conveys the sequence of events and who granted the approval. Remember to choose the correct tense (past perfect vs. simple past or present perfect) based on the timing of the approval.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was authorized

Focuses on the act of giving authority or permission, instead of the state of being approved.

was sanctioned

Implies a formal endorsement or permission, often by an authority.

received clearance

Emphasizes the act of passing through a necessary check or approval process.

had been cleared

Similar to 'received clearance', but places slightly more emphasis on removing obstacles.

was given the green light

An idiomatic expression indicating permission or approval to proceed.

had gained acceptance

Highlights the process of being accepted or favorably received.

was endorsed

Implies support or approval from a person or organization.

was ratified

Suggests a formal validation or confirmation, often in legal or political contexts.

was validated

Highlights the act of confirming something's accuracy or legitimacy.

was rubber-stamped

Suggests a quick, almost automatic approval without detailed examination.

FAQs

How can I use "had been approved" in a sentence?

Use "had been approved" to indicate that something was approved at a specific point in the past, especially when describing a sequence of past events. For example, "The proposal "had been approved" before the funding was cut."

What is a synonym for "had been approved"?

Alternatives to "had been approved" include "was authorized", "was sanctioned", or "received clearance", depending on the specific context.

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

"Had been approved" indicates a past perfect tense, showing that the approval happened before another event in the past. "Was approved" is in the simple past tense and describes an action completed in the past without necessarily relating it to another past event.

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

Whether "has been approved" or "had been approved" is correct depends on the context. Use "has been approved" when referring to an action completed recently or with continuing relevance to the present. Use "had been approved" when referring to an action completed before another point in the past.