has ever approved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has ever approved" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing whether any approval has been given at any point in time, often in a context of inquiry or reflection. Example: "I wonder if the committee has ever approved such a proposal in the past."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It is the largest development the agency has ever approved.

The New York Times

"We think that my case is the only time a federal court has ever approved a safety plan for a defendant," she told me.

The New Yorker

The European Union is entitled to impose up to $4 billion in retaliatory tariffs on American exports -- a reprisal far bigger than any the W.T.O. has ever approved.

The New York Times

"I have reason to believe that this merger is, in fact, a merger to duopoly with few efficiencies in a market with high entry barriers — something no court has ever approved," Ms. Brill wrote.

The New York Times

When your period crime drama comes to HBO with some of the biggest budgets the network has ever approved – and possibly the biggest expectations since "The Sopranos" – maybe you expect that your show will be an Emmy darling in its very first season.

The New York Times

With a board meeting scheduled for next Thursday some board members would have preferred scrutiny of the appointments process and the contract, the most expensive the FA has ever approved for an employee, to have been done at a formal meeting with all members present.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

But it was far more than Congress had ever approved before.

The Economist

The 7-to-6 vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee — which came after years of efforts by gay rights advocates and a day of emotionally charged testimony by dozens of supporters and opponents of the bill — was the first time any legislative body in the state had ever approved a gay marriage bill.

The New York Times

"The FDA knows more about MDMA right now than any drug that they've ever approved in their entire history," he says, pointing to a wealth of literature generated, ironically, by MDMA's illegal status.

BBC

Whilst the king was at Waltham, in Essex, a proclamation was issued condemning the rebels and denying that he had ever approved of their actions.

Wikipedia

In contrast, no drug has ever been approved to prevent lung cancer, and only six drugs have ever been approved to prevent any type of cancer.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has ever approved", ensure the context clearly indicates the timeframe being considered. For instance, specify the agency, organization, or historical period relevant to the approval.

Common error

Avoid using "has ever approved" when the action is ongoing or refers to a future event. This phrase specifically refers to approvals that have occurred at some point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has ever approved" functions as a present perfect tense construction used to inquire or state whether an action (approval) has occurred at any time in the past. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment of correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has ever approved" is a grammatically correct and frequently used construction in English, primarily found in News & Media, Academic and Scientific contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for inquiring whether an action has occurred at any time in the past. When using the phrase, specify the relevant timeframe to ensure clarity. Related phrases, such as "has previously authorized" or "has formerly endorsed", can provide similar meanings with slight variations in formality or emphasis. A key usage tip is to avoid using the phrase for ongoing or future events, maintaining its focus on past approvals.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has ever consented to

Focuses on giving agreement or permission to something.

has previously authorized

Focuses on prior formal permission or sanction.

has ever ratified

Highlights a more official type of permission granted.

has formerly endorsed

Highlights past support or advocacy.

has at any time sanctioned

Emphasizes the idea of giving official permission at some point in the past.

has once validated

Implies a single instance of confirming or ratifying something.

has at any point backed

Focuses on the act of supporting something in the past.

has in the past given the go-ahead

Uses a more informal expression for granting permission.

has sometime concurred with

Highlights a point of agreement or shared opinion in the past.

had once okayed

An informal and conversational way of saying approved.

FAQs

How do I use "has ever approved" in a sentence?

Use "has ever approved" to inquire whether something has been approved at any time in the past. For example: "Has the FDA "ever approved" a similar drug before?"

What is a formal alternative to "has ever approved"?

A more formal alternative to "has ever approved" could be "has previously authorized" or "has formerly endorsed", depending on the context. Each implies a formal and official endorsement or permission.

Is it correct to use "has never approved" instead of "has not ever approved"?

Yes, "has never approved" is more concise and grammatically preferred over "has not ever approved". The word "never" already implies 'not ever'.

What's the difference between "has ever approved" and "has now approved"?

"Has ever approved" refers to any point in the past, while "has now approved" indicates a recent or current approval. They differ in the time frame of the approval.