need authorization

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "need authorization" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that permission or approval is required for a certain action or process. Example: "Before proceeding with the project, we need authorization from the management team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Under Mrs. Reding's original proposal, companies in Europe that store or process personal data would need authorization from a "supervisory authority" before they could transfer personal information outside the Union at the request of a foreign government or court.

The New York Times

What critics say: It's unclear whether the police have the legal authority to fly the drones or whether they need authorization from the City Council.

The New York Times

Those banks would also need authorization from the government to hand over any data, it said.

The New York Times

Even in that event, a senior NATO official said, the security forces would need authorization from NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo.

The New York Times

"It's like another tax cut that will put more money into people's pockets, President Obama said at a news conference announcing the plans, adding that he does not need authorization from Congress to make the changes.

The New York Times

She thinks the transformation began with a question asked by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 as he prepared to more than double the ground forces in Vietnam: "You don't think I oughta have a joint session, do you?" Did he need authorization from Congress, he asked the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to make a troop deployment like that?

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

And it's rather complicated to shoot, for example, in Paris, because you need authorizations in order to be able to do everything, so there's really no room for improvisation here.

Huffington Post

Federal authorities told us they needed authorization from the capital, Abuja, which was our responsibility to get.

The New York Times

While the S.E.C. is an independent agency, it needs authorization from the solicitor general to file a Supreme Court brief.

The New York Times

"All of the wood, to get out, needs authorization from Inrena," said Fabiola Muñoz, chief government adviser on illegal logging.

The New York Times

It takes about a minute, a little longer if you pay with a credit card that needs authorization.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "need authorization", specify who needs to provide the authorization and for what specific action or process. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "need authorization" without clarifying who is responsible for granting it. For example, instead of saying "This action needs authorization", specify "This action needs authorization from the manager."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "need authorization" primarily functions as a predicate within a sentence, indicating that a certain action, process, or item requires official permission or approval. Ludwig provides many examples illustrating this function.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "need authorization" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that permission or approval is required for a specific action or process. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is frequently used in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While "need authorization" itself is quite direct, it's essential to clearly specify the source from which the authorization is required to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "require permission" or "must obtain approval" can be used to vary your writing, but the core meaning remains consistent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

require permission

Changes the verb from "need" to "require", focusing on the necessity of obtaining permission.

must obtain approval

Emphasizes the obligation to get approval, using stronger verbs.

is subject to approval

Shifts the focus to the action being conditional on approval.

requires sanction

Uses "sanction" which suggests a formal approval, possibly from an authority.

demands clearance

Highlights the necessity of getting official clearance before proceeding.

calls for endorsement

Focuses on needing support or endorsement, implying a degree of advocacy.

necessitates consent

Implies that agreement or consent is indispensable for a specific action.

is conditional upon authorization

Restructures the sentence to highlight the conditionality of an action.

mandates prior approval

Emphasizes that approval must be obtained in advance.

is pending approval

Indicates that the action is waiting for authorization to be granted.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "need authorization"?

Alternatives include "require permission", "must obtain approval", or "is subject to approval", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "needs authorization" instead of "need authorization"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but the form depends on the subject. Use "need authorization" with plural subjects or "I/you/we/they", and "needs authorization" with singular subjects or "he/she/it".

What does it mean when something "needs authorization"?

It means that permission or approval is required from a designated authority before a particular action or process can proceed.

Can "require authorization" be used interchangeably with "need authorization"?

Yes, "require authorization" is a suitable alternative to "need authorization", especially in formal contexts. Both phrases indicate a prerequisite of obtaining permission.