prior approval

USAGE SUMMARY

'prior approval' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
'Prior' is an adjective that means 'earlier, existing, or coming before something else in time.' 'Approval' is a noun that means 'the act of giving official acceptance or agreement.' You can use 'prior approval' when you need to refer to a situation in which something has been officially accepted or agreed upon before a certain time. For example, "Before starting the project, we needed to secure prior approval from the mayor's office."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Requires prior approval.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Prior approval required.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Projects require prior approval.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Can a Tenant Renovate Without Prior Approval?

The New York Times

Using them requires prior approval by the Department of Agriculture.

The New York Times

Reliable intermediaries help, and sometimes prior approval is necessary.

The New Yorker

Prior approval from instructor is required.

Stanford University

Prior approval is required before any solicitation.

Stanford University

Prior approval for outside employment and activities.

Cornell University

"She had no prior approval from the chief of staff, and she had no prior approval from the governor….

The New Yorker

You can pass 166 borders without prior approval.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When requesting something that requires "prior approval", clearly state the reasons for your request and provide all necessary supporting documentation to expedite the approval process.

Common error

Not all actions or requests necessitate "prior approval". Before seeking permission, check established guidelines or policies to determine if the action falls within your authorized scope to avoid unnecessary delays.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prior approval" functions as a noun phrase typically used to denote the necessity of obtaining authorization before undertaking a specific action or activity. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

33%

News & Media

52%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prior approval" is a noun phrase indicating the necessity of receiving authorization before undertaking an action. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across diverse contexts, including academia, news media, and formal business settings. It’s commonly used to ensure actions align with established rules or policies. When using "prior approval", it's essential to provide comprehensive information to expedite the approval process, while also confirming that "prior approval" is indeed required. Alternatives like "advance authorization" and "pre-approval" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

advance authorization

Emphasizes the 'authorization' aspect and that it is obtained 'in advance'.

pre-approval

A more concise, single-word alternative emphasizing that the approval comes 'before'.

previous consent

Highlights the 'consent' or agreement aspect and that it was given 'previously'.

preliminary clearance

Suggests a 'clearance' or initial approval that is granted 'preliminarily'.

early permission

Focuses on the 'permission' aspect and the fact that it is granted 'early'.

prospective endorsement

Highlights the 'endorsement' and suggests it is 'prospective' or expected beforehand.

initial agreement

Emphasizes the 'agreement' aspect, specifying that it is the 'initial' one.

pre-sanction

A more formal term emphasizing 'sanction' or official authorization obtained 'beforehand'.

pre-qualification

Highlights 'qualification' which is ensured beforehand.

previous sanctioning

Highlights 'sanctioning' and specifies that it has occurred 'previously'.

FAQs

How do you use "prior approval" in a sentence?

You can use "prior approval" to indicate that permission or authorization must be obtained before a specific action is taken. For instance, "Employees must obtain "prior approval" from their manager before scheduling vacation time."

What is another way to say "prior approval"?

Alternatives to "prior approval" include "advance authorization", "pre-approval", or "previous consent". The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of formality required.

What is the difference between "prior approval" and "after-the-fact approval"?

"Prior approval" means getting permission before doing something, while "after-the-fact approval" means seeking permission after something has already been done. Seeking "after-the-fact approval" is often riskier, as the action may not be sanctioned.

When is "prior approval" typically required?

"Prior approval" is commonly required for actions involving significant financial commitments, deviations from established policies, or activities that could pose a risk to the organization. Examples include travel expenses, research projects, and changes to project scope.