prior authority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prior authority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you refer to a previously established or recognized source of power or permission. Example: "Before proceeding with the project, we must ensure that we have obtained prior authority from the board."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In general, records cannot be deleted or destroyed without prior authority from the National Archives, which permanently preserves records judged to be of historical value.

The New York Times

The European Commission had planned a code that would ban companies in the union from taking action to frustrate a hostile takeover bid without the prior authority of the company's shareholders.

The New York Times

"We appreciate that this is not information you will disclose to us without prior authority but could you please let us know urgently what authority you need to enable you to disclose this information to us," the solicitors requested.

The Guardian

The commission can directly order changes to the ways companies run their businesses, including requiring major divestitures, and setting fines of more than $1 billion without filing a lawsuit and without the prior authority of a judge.

The New York Times

They said the guys had been detained under Schedule 7 of the Terrorist Act 2000, which means they can detain whoever they want "without the need for any suspicion of prior authority" and ask basically anything, or else you might find yourself in the clink or hit with a fine.

Vice

Many of those participating in both OMC workshops and Khululeka meetings identified the government as the agent that had usurped their family autonomy by setting laws that protect women and children and undermine their prior authority.

Global Health Action

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The year prior, authorities pledged "to accelerate agricultural modernisation and rural development".

The Guardian

The authors conjectured that prior confidence in religious authority facilitates religious experience by positively adjusting expectations about ritual outcomes, which in turn supports confidence in religious authority (thus in part explaining the conservation both of religious elites and of religious experiences; Schjoedt et al. 2010).

Biology and Philosophy

While the policy announced by the I.N.S. may not harmonize perfectly with earlier I.N.S. interpretative guidelines (which are not law), the parties have cited, and we have found, no statutory provision, no regulatory authority, and no prior agency adjudication that "flatly contradicts" the policy...

The New York Times

The choice of the two provinces, Gauteng and the Free State, was purposive, and influenced by geographical proximity to the researchers, prior health authority approval, and budgetary constraints.

Global Health Action

Six bus routes in Manhattan would lose overnight service under the current plan, compared with 13 in the prior plan; the authority predicted this would create an inconvenience for 145 riders, instead of 765.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prior authority", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what holds the authority and the scope of that authority. This avoids ambiguity and ensures the statement is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid assuming that the audience understands the source of the "prior authority". Always explicitly state or clearly imply the source to prevent confusion or misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prior authority" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as an object of a preposition or a subject complement. It indicates the necessity of having pre-existing approval or authorization before taking a specific action. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prior authority" is a noun phrase used to emphasize the necessity of obtaining pre-existing approval or authorization. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and sees consistent use across diverse contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and formal business settings. While alternatives like "previous authorization" and "advance approval" exist, "prior authority" offers a clear and direct way to convey this requirement. When using this phrase, ensure the source of the authority is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous authorization

Emphasizes the act of authorizing something beforehand.

advance approval

Highlights the aspect of approval being granted in advance.

preceding authorization

Focuses on the authorization that came before.

prior consent

Implies agreement or permission given beforehand.

earlier permission

Stresses the fact that permission was given at an earlier time.

pre-existing authorization

Highlights the authorization already being in place.

preliminary authorization

Suggests an initial or early authorization.

previous sanction

Implies a formal approval or endorsement given earlier.

existing mandate

Focuses on a currently valid order or authorization.

standing authorization

Suggests an authorization that is continuously valid and in effect.

FAQs

How to use "prior authority" in a sentence?

You can use "prior authority" to indicate that something requires permission or authorization that was granted previously. For example, "In general, records cannot be deleted or destroyed without "prior authority" from the National Archives."

What can I say instead of "prior authority"?

You can use alternatives like "previous authorization", "advance approval", or "earlier permission" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "prior approval authority"?

While not strictly incorrect, "prior approval authority" can be redundant. The phrase ""prior authority"" already implies the power to approve something beforehand, so adding "approval" might be unnecessary.

What's the difference between "prior authority" and "delegated authority"?

"Prior authority" generally refers to permission or authorization obtained beforehand, while "delegated authority" refers to authority that has been formally assigned or transferred from a higher power. Delegated authority can become the basis for subsequent actions requiring "prior authority".