he was approved

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "He was approved" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to indicate that an application or request was accepted. For example, "John applied for a loan, and he was approved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Last October, after 13 years in prison, he was approved for parole under certain conditions.

The New York Times

He was approved for a second five-year term in 2004.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But he was approved for parole in June, eight months into his sentence.

The Guardian

Peter Akoijak, 26, said he was approved by I.N.S. in August 2001.

The New York Times

He was approved 57 to 40, with the vast majority of his support coming from Democrats.

The New York Times

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

The New York Times

By November, he was approved by the co-op board and was ready to close.

The New York Times

Certainly, it was easier to vet Michael Jordan's finances before he was approved to own the Charlotte Bobcats.

The New York Times - Sports

Once again, Rehnquist endured a contentious confirmation hearing, but he was approved by the Senate 65 33.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"I successfully trained my son Musaed, 22, as an executioner and he was approved and chosen," he says proudly.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Harris also owns the Strathmore property in northwest Queensland, where he was approved to clear 58,000 hectares of savannah woodland.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he was approved", ensure the context clearly indicates what he was approved for (e.g., a loan, a position, a project).

Common error

Avoid using "he was approved" without specifying the subject of the approval. For example, instead of "he was approved", say "he was approved for the mortgage" to provide clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was approved" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone received approval from an external source. It's grammatically sound, as Ludwig AI confirms, and is widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Encyclopedias

8%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was approved" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive construction that indicates someone has received authorization or acceptance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, with a neutral register that makes it appropriate for both formal and informal settings. While versatile, clarity is key: always specify what the approval was for. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples, with strong representation in encyclopedias and academic writing as well.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he received approval

Replaces the passive voice with an active construction using "received".

he was authorized

Replaces "approved" with "authorized", indicating official permission.

his application was accepted

Substitutes "approved" with "accepted", focusing on the application.

he was given the go-ahead

Uses an informal phrase meaning permission was granted.

he got the green light

Uses an idiomatic expression meaning permission to proceed.

he obtained clearance

Indicates that he received the necessary permissions or security clearance.

he passed the assessment

Focuses on passing a test or evaluation as a form of approval.

the request was granted to him

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the granting of a request.

he met the requirements

Emphasizes meeting necessary criteria for approval.

he secured endorsement

Highlights the aspect of gaining support or endorsement.

FAQs

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

You can use "he was approved" to indicate that someone's request or application has been accepted. For example: "He was approved for the loan after submitting all the required documents."

What can I say instead of "he was approved"?

You can use alternatives like "he received approval", "his application was accepted", or "he was authorized depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "he is approved"?

While grammatically possible in certain contexts, "he is approved" is less common than "he was approved". "He was approved" indicates a past action, while "he is approved" might suggest a current state of being, but it sounds less natural.

What's the difference between "he was approved" and "he approved"?

"He was approved" means someone else granted approval to him, while "he approved" means he granted approval to someone or something else. The first is passive, the second is active.