needs to be approved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "needs to be approved" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is often used when referring to a process where something is required to go through an approval process. Here are a few examples: - "The new policy proposal needs to be approved by the board of directors before it can be implemented." - "All expenses over $500 need to be approved by a manager before they can be reimbursed." - "The final draft of the project report needs to be approved by the client before we can submit it." In these examples, "needs to be approved" is used to indicate that there is a necessary step or action that must be taken before something can be considered complete or allowed.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The bill needs to be approved today.

The Guardian

But that needs to be approved by the member states.

The Guardian

"It also needs to be approved by the European council.

The Guardian

The deal needs to be approved by the state Legislature.

University of California, Berkeley

The agreement needs to be approved by Parliament before it can be enforced.

The New York Times

The deal needs to be approved by regulators and the Defense Department.

The New York Times

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal for congestion pricing needs to be approved within days.

The New York Times

The deal still needs to be approved by bondholders at the end of this month.

The Guardian - Business

That law still needs to be approved by referendum, dated for the fall of this year.

The Guardian

The plan needs to be approved by the university's faculty and the Board of Regents.

The New York Times

He needs to be approved by 23 of the league's 30 owners.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "needs to be approved", clearly state who needs to provide the approval. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid vague statements like "The request needs to be approved." Instead, specify who holds the authority: "The request needs to be approved by the manager."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs to be approved" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a subject requires validation or authorization by an external entity. This construction shifts the focus from the approver to the item or action requiring approval. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

28%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

15%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "needs to be approved" is a grammatically correct and very common passive construction used to indicate that something requires authorization. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted and used across various contexts, including news, academia, and formal business settings. While versatile, it's best practice to explicitly state who needs to provide the approval for clarity. Related phrases like "requires authorization" and "is subject to approval" can offer alternative ways to express similar meanings. Avoiding vagueness and specifying the approver ensures effective communication. The prevalence of this phrase in authoritative sources underscores its reliability and usefulness in professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is subject to approval

Highlights that the action is conditional upon receiving approval.

requires authorization

Emphasizes the necessity of official permission before proceeding.

must be validated

Focuses on the need for verification or confirmation.

is contingent on acceptance

Highlights the dependency of the action on being accepted by someone.

is pending approval

Indicates that the approval process is currently underway.

necessitates agreement

Stresses the importance of mutual consent or consensus before proceeding.

awaits ratification

Suggests a formal confirmation process, often in legal or political contexts.

warrants confirmation

Highlights the need for verifying the accuracy or validity of something.

calls for endorsement

Highlights the need for support or agreement from a particular group or individual.

demands clearance

Emphasizes the need to obtain official permission, often related to security or sensitive information.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "needs to be approved" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "requires authorization" or "is subject to approval".

What's the difference between "needs to be approved" and "is awaiting approval"?

"Needs to be approved" implies the process hasn't started, while "is awaiting approval" suggests the process is underway and pending a decision.

Is it correct to say "need to be approved" instead of "needs to be approved"?

No, "need to be approved" is grammatically incorrect when referring to a singular subject. The correct form is "needs to be approved".

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use "needs to be approved"?

This phrase is suitable in professional, academic, and formal communication when outlining required procedures or permissions.