proposal was approved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proposal was approved" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that a specific proposal has received formal acceptance or endorsement. Example: "After thorough review, the committee announced that the proposal was approved and will be implemented next quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A state lottery proposal was approved.

The New York Times

His proposal was approved 85 to 11.

The New York Times

The proposal was approved unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The New York Times

However, the merger proposal was approved in a referendum.

The Guardian

Ms. Peake's proposal was approved at the district level.

The New York Times

Mr. Franken's proposal was approved by a vote of 64 to 35.

The New York Times

"There was no more time to waste," Mr. McGreevey said after the proposal was approved.

The New York Times

The proposal was approved last month by the City Planning Commission.

The New York Times

A committee with representatives from both churches wrote a compromise document; that proposal was approved today.

The New York Times

Dozens of tenants in the audience shouted "Poor tax!" when the proposal was approved.

The New York Times

In 2012, their research proposal was approved by that university's scientific review board.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "proposal was approved", ensure the context clearly identifies which body or authority granted the approval.

Common error

Avoid using "proposal was approved" without specifying whose proposal and by whom it was approved. Provide enough context for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proposal was approved" functions as a passive construction indicating the successful acceptance of a plan or suggestion. It highlights the result of an action (approval) rather than the actor. As Ludwig shows, this is a common way to communicate the outcome of a review or decision-making process.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "proposal was approved" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction to communicate the acceptance of a plan or suggestion. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and widely applicable. It's found across various contexts, including news, science, and business, with a neutral to professional register. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying whose proposal and by whom it was approved. Alternative phrases like "the suggestion was accepted" or "the plan received approval" can be used for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the suggestion was accepted

Replaces "proposal" with "suggestion" and "approved" with "accepted", offering a slightly less formal tone.

the plan received approval

Changes the structure to emphasize the plan and uses "received approval" instead of the passive voice.

the motion carried

A more formal term, often used in parliamentary or meeting contexts to indicate approval of a motion.

the recommendation was endorsed

Substitutes "proposal" with "recommendation" and "approved" with "endorsed", suggesting a stronger level of support.

the idea got the green light

An idiomatic expression meaning that the idea has been given permission to proceed; more informal.

the scheme was ratified

A formal term suggesting official confirmation or validation of a scheme or plan.

the concept was validated

Suggests that the concept was not just approved, but also proven to be sound or effective.

agreement was reached on the proposal

Indicates that a consensus was achieved regarding the proposal, implying a collaborative decision.

the proposition gained acceptance

Similar to "the plan received approval", but uses "proposition" to refer to the idea.

the submission was sanctioned

Implies the approval was granted by an authority and carries legal or official weight.

FAQs

How to use "proposal was approved" in a sentence?

Use "proposal was approved" to indicate that a specific suggestion or plan has received formal acceptance or endorsement. For example: "After thorough review, the "proposal was approved" and will be implemented next quarter."

What can I say instead of "proposal was approved"?

You can use alternatives like "the suggestion was accepted", "the plan received approval", or "the motion carried" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "proposal was approved" or "proposal is approved"?

"Proposal was approved" indicates a past action, while "proposal is approved" implies a current state of approval. Choose the tense based on the timing of the approval in your context.

What's the difference between "proposal was approved" and "proposal has been approved"?

"Proposal was approved" is simple past tense, indicating a completed action at a specific time. "Proposal has been approved" is present perfect tense, implying the action's relevance to the present. Both are correct, but the present perfect may suggest ongoing implications.