permission sought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "permission sought" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone is requesting or has requested approval or consent for an action. Example: "Before proceeding with the project, we must ensure that permission sought from the relevant authorities has been granted."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Why was no permission sought for such a hike beforehand?

The New York Times

Was my permission sought when Joss's team decided to record No Man's Land?

The Guardian - Music

But this is not true: the creator of digital content still owns the copyright for it and thus has the right to have permission sought for using it, and also payment for usage.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the Browns have issued a statement saying that "at no stage" was their permission sought.

BBC

Letters introducing the project were sent out and permission sought to interview the respective providers.

BMC Health Services Research

The purpose of the study was explained to the adults present and their permission sought to conduct the interview.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The rationale for permission seeking was based on the wish to prioritise a trusting relationship with a health professional.

BMJ Open

Similarly, Bowskill et al. [ 4] reported that new prescribers often engage in permission seeking from doctors whilst prescribing initially, which subsides after approximately a year.

BMC Medical Education

defer.add img); With your parents' permission, seek copies of all policies for your records.

WikiHow

Look for old homesteads, and with permission, seek out vintage items such as coins, watches, old silver spoons and more.

WikiHow

If prior permission could not be obtained due to failures of communication, permission was sought immediately upon arrival.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In legal and academic writing, always specify the type of permission being "sought" (e.g., ethical, copyright, legal) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "permission sought" without specifying who is seeking the permission and from whom. For example, instead of writing "Permission was sought", write "The researchers sought permission from the ethics committee."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "permission sought" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the action of seeking permission has occurred. Ludwig examples showcase its usage in formal contexts, such as research and legal settings.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "permission sought" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed term, primarily observed in scientific and news-related contexts. According to Ludwig, it serves to communicate that authorization has been requested, and is typically employed in more formal communication. When employing "permission sought", it's important to specify who sought the permission and from whom, avoiding vague language. Alternative phrases such as "approval requested" or "consent obtained" can be used to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approval requested

Emphasizes the need for approval, suggesting a positive evaluation is needed.

consent requested

Highlights the aspect of seeking agreement or consent from relevant parties.

authorization requested

Focuses on the act of requesting authorization, highlighting the formal aspect.

assent gained

Similar to consent, but often used in contexts involving minors or individuals with limited capacity.

clearance obtained

Focuses on the outcome of receiving clearance, implying the permission was granted.

concurrence sought

Focuses on the seeking of agreement or alignment of opinions.

license pursued

Highlights the active pursuit of a formal license or permit.

agreement pursued

Focuses on the active process of getting a formal agreement.

endorsement requested

Highlights the aspect of seeking public approval or support.

leave requested

Emphasizes the act of asking for a formal leave or allowance to do something.

FAQs

How is "permission sought" typically used in a sentence?

Generally, "permission sought" is followed by a prepositional phrase specifying the entity from whom permission was needed, such as "Permission was sought from the ethics committee" or "Permission was sought to access confidential data".

What are some alternatives to "permission sought"?

Some alternatives include /s/"approval+requested", /s/"authorization+requested", or /s/"consent+obtained", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "permission sought" or "permission requested"?

"Permission sought" and "permission requested" are often interchangeable, but "permission sought" may imply a more formal or completed action, while "permission requested" focuses on the act of asking.

What's the difference between /s/"assent+sought" and "permission sought"?

"Assent sought" is often used when referring to seeking agreement from someone who cannot give formal consent, such as a minor or someone with diminished mental capacity, whereas "permission sought" is generally used for capable adults or entities.