had been authorized

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been authorized" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that permission or approval was granted at some point in the past, often in a context involving formal or official matters. Example: "The project could proceed only after it had been authorized by the board of directors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Court of Appeals remanded for an evidentiary hearing as to whether Verdugo's abduction had been authorized by authorities in the United States.

Cornell University

The meetings had been authorized by the government.

The New York Times

Garza had been authorized to drink during past undercover assignments.

The Washington Post

He had been authorized to spend about $20,000 to acquire it for the museum.

The New York Times - Arts

She said the payments had been authorized "at a very senior level within the newspaper".

The New York Times

But Mr. Bush had been authorized to drill in Alabama only from September through November 1972.

The New York Times

But Mr. Ganz, the lawyer, said that he had been authorized to answer some limited questions.

The New York Times

Mr. Rudnick disputed Mr. Barley's version of events and said the letter had been authorized.

The New York Times

Today he said he had been authorized by Mrs. McGuckin to speak out.

The New York Times

An embassy spokesman said Mr. Golez had been authorized by the embassy to make that statement.

The New York Times

The decision threw out duties that had been authorized by the Bush administration early this year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been authorized", ensure the context clearly identifies who granted the authorization and the scope of what was authorized. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that because something "had been authorized", it was automatically implemented or carried out. Authorization is only the initial step in a process. Further actions may be required for the authorization to translate into concrete action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been authorized" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that an action of authorizing was completed before a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a standard construction used to denote that permission or approval was granted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been authorized" is a commonly used phrase indicating that permission or approval was granted in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's frequently found in formal contexts such as news reporting, academic writing, and encyclopedic entries. When employing this phrase, clarity is key: ensure the authorizing party and the scope of authorization are clearly defined. While authorization is a crucial step, remember it doesn't guarantee implementation. Alternatives include "was approved" and "had received approval", offering subtle variations in emphasis. The phrase serves to establish legitimacy or justify subsequent actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was approved

Replaces the passive perfect construction with a simple past passive, conveying a more direct sense of approval.

was sanctioned

Uses a synonym for "authorized", implying a formal or official endorsement.

had received approval

Shifts the focus to the recipient of the authorization, highlighting the act of receiving approval.

was given the go-ahead

Employs an idiomatic expression indicating that permission to proceed was granted.

had been cleared

Implies that the subject had passed some form of scrutiny or evaluation before being authorized.

had obtained permission

Focuses on the act of gaining authorization, emphasizing the effort involved.

was empowered

Suggests that the subject was given the power or right to act.

was delegated

Indicates that authority was passed down from a higher level.

had license

Uses 'license' as a synonym, often implying formal or legal permission.

was legitimized

Highlights the act of making something lawful or officially recognized.

FAQs

How to use "had been authorized" in a sentence?

Use "had been authorized" to indicate that permission or approval was granted at some point in the past. For example, "The project "had been authorized" by the board last year."

What can I say instead of "had been authorized"?

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

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

"Had been authorized" indicates a completed action in the past before another point in time, while "was authorized" simply indicates that the action of authorizing occurred in the past without necessarily specifying a subsequent point of reference.

Is "had been authorized" formal or informal?

"Had been authorized" is generally considered neutral to formal, suitable for professional, academic, and news contexts. It's less common in casual conversation.