he approved that

USAGE SUMMARY

"he approved that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone has given their consent for something. For example: "The President approved that a new department be created within the organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mr. Giannoulias, 33, has ducked all but the most general questions about which loans he approved that might have contributed to the bank's trouble.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

You bet I do.' He approves that message with a click of his mouse and off it flies, to wait, in hope, with all the others.

The Guardian

Jacob Chol Dau, 19, said he was approved that same month.

The New York Times

"If he hadn't approved that company our family wouldn't be shattered," Mr. Du said.

The New York Times

"She never approved that image.

The New Yorker

Who approved that line?

Huffington Post

The ethics committee specifically approved that procedure.

Plosone

But Griffey told the Mariners he would not approve that trade, and Benitez stayed with the Mets.

The New York Times - Sports

Following the conservative agenda of those who had nominated him, he approved legislation that eliminated wartime controls, slashed taxes, established a Federal budget system, restored the high protective tariff, and imposed tight limitations upon immigration.

Independent

Weeks before he signed the bill for additional DNA testing, he approved legislation that barred the execution of mentally challenged inmates.

Huffington Post

Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos has said he is ready to approve that ruling.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he approved that", ensure the context clearly indicates what "that" refers to. Using a more specific noun phrase can improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by ensuring that the pronoun "that" clearly refers to a specific and easily identifiable object, plan, or idea. If there's any risk of confusion, replace "that" with a more descriptive noun phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he approved that" functions as a declarative statement expressing endorsement or permission. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it indicates agreement with a plan, action, or message.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

11%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he approved that" is a grammatically correct phrase used to convey endorsement or permission. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While relatively rare in occurrence, its context is typically neutral, commonly found in news and media sources. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in pronoun reference and consider more formal alternatives like "he sanctioned that" or "he authorized that" for professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he gave his approval to that

This alternative emphasizes the act of giving approval.

he sanctioned that

This alternative suggests a more formal or official approval.

he endorsed that

This alternative implies public support or recommendation.

he authorized that

This alternative indicates granting permission or power for something.

he validated that

This alternative highlights the confirmation or verification aspect.

he consented to that

This alternative focuses on giving agreement or permission.

he agreed to that

This alternative indicates an alignment of opinion or decision.

he was in favor of that

This alternative expresses a positive sentiment towards something.

he gave the green light to that

This alternative is an idiom that means to give permission for something to proceed.

that met with his approval

This alternative rephrases the sentence to emphasize what was being approved and how this received his approval.

FAQs

How can I use "he approved that" in a sentence?

You can use "he approved that" to indicate someone has given consent or permission for something, like "He approved that the project should move forward".

What's a more formal way to say "he approved that"?

More formal alternatives include "he sanctioned that" or "he authorized that". These alternatives "he sanctioned that" and "he authorized that", are suited for professional or official contexts.

Is it ever better to use a different phrase instead of "he approved that"?

If you want to emphasize public support, consider using "he endorsed that". If you want to stress agreement, "he agreed to that" might be more appropriate. See other alternatives such as "he endorsed that" and "he agreed to that".

What does "he approved that" imply about the situation?

It implies that there was a decision or proposal presented to him, and he gave his consent or agreement for it to proceed.