must approve

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must approve" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something requires formal consent or agreement from someone before proceeding. Example: "The project proposal must approve by the board before any work can begin."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The sponsor must approve the design.

The New York Times - Sports

The N.F.L. must approve the agreement.

The New York Times - Sports

Congress must approve these nuclear deals.

The New York Times

Institutional review boards must approve the research.

The New York Times

The N.B.A. must approve the deal.

The New York Times

Mr. Sunstein must approve new government rules.

The New York Times - Health

The Senate also must approve treaties.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Also, the F.A.A. must approve the sale.

The New York Times

Schwarzman must approve any other chartered flights.

The New Yorker

Georgia still must approve the plan.

Independent

Regulators must approve the agreement.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "must approve", ensure the context clearly identifies who is responsible for giving approval and what criteria they should use.

Common error

Avoid using "must approves" or "must be approve". The correct form is "must approve", as "must" is a modal verb that doesn't change form based on the subject.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must approve" functions as a modal verb phrase, indicating obligation or necessity. It specifies that a certain entity or authority is required to give their formal consent or agreement for something to proceed. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts such as legal agreements, research protocols, and organizational decisions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Academia

19%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

2%

Science

13%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "must approve" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a mandatory requirement for approval, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It is frequently used in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts. When using this phrase, be sure to clearly identify the entity responsible for approval and the criteria they should apply. Related phrases include "is required to approve" and "needs to authorize", with minor differences in emphasis. A key writing guidance is to ensure correct subject-verb agreement, avoiding errors like "must approves". Overall, "must approve" is a versatile phrase for indicating necessary authorization across various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is required to approve

Emphasizes the obligatory nature of the approval process.

needs to authorize

Focuses on the act of giving official permission or sanction.

is essential to ratify

Highlights the importance of formal validation or confirmation.

is imperative to endorse

Stresses the critical need for support or approval.

has to sanction

Suggests a formal or authoritative approval.

is obligated to validate

Highlights a legal or moral duty to confirm the legitimacy of something.

is bound to consent to

Implies a contractual or moral obligation to agree.

is compelled to okay

Indicates a forced or strongly suggested approval.

should give the go-ahead

Suggests a less formal approval, often in project management.

has the final say

Focuses on the ultimate authority to make a decision.

FAQs

How can I use "must approve" in a sentence?

Use "must approve" to indicate a necessary condition for something to proceed. For instance, "The board "must approve" the budget before it can be implemented."

What's a more formal alternative to "must approve"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "is required to approve" or "is necessary to ratify". These alternatives, unlike "must approve", often suit professional or academic settings.

Is there a difference between "must approve" and "needs to approve"?

"Must approve" implies a stronger obligation than "needs to approve". The first suggests an unavoidable requirement, while the second indicates a need that can be addressed in various ways. Similar to "must approve" there are a lot of cases where it is a strict requirment.

What happens if something that "must approve" isn't actually approved?

If something that ""must approve"" is not approved, it means the action cannot proceed, or the decision is not valid. This depends on the context, but usually the approval is a prerequisite.