public approval

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "public approval" is both correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to the general support or acceptance of the public towards a person, idea, or action. Example: The politician's policies were met with strong public approval, leading to a surge in his popularity among voters.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, they do need tacit public approval.

Independent

"You don't have to campaign for public approval.

The New York Times

His public approval ratings have dropped to single digits.

The New York Times

Do you think there's public approval of it?

The New York Times

How have Obamacare's problems affected his public approval?

The Guardian - Opinion

Were the figures underestimated to help gain public approval?

The Guardian

Public approval of the war effort gradually eroded.

The Washington Post

Technologies can fail to win public approval for a variety of reasons.

Energy Policy

Nor has public approval been similar between the two sectors.

Stanford University

And the system enjoys 75percentt public approval.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Finally, the minimum level of the subsidy required to gain public approval of both types of RHO was examined.

Energy Economics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing political or policy matters, use "public approval" to reflect general acceptance or support from the population. For instance, "The new law gained widespread public approval." Avoid using it when describing actions taken by specific individuals or small groups.

Common error

Be cautious when interpreting silence or lack of vocal opposition as "public approval". Tacit approval doesn't always equate to active endorsement; it might simply indicate indifference or a lack of awareness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "public approval" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting the state of being generally favored or supported by the public. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's commonly used to describe the acceptance of policies, actions, or individuals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "public approval" is a commonly used noun phrase that describes the extent to which an idea, action, person, or policy is favorably regarded by the general population. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely accepted. It is prevalent in news, academic, and scientific contexts, denoting a neutral register. Common errors include misinterpreting tacit approval as active support. Related phrases include "public endorsement" and "general acceptance". This comprehensive guide helps ensure its accurate and effective use in various forms of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

public endorsement

Synonymous, but slightly more formal than "public approval".

general acceptance

Emphasizes broad acceptance rather than explicit approval.

widespread acceptance

Emphasizes the breadth of acceptance across different groups.

popular support

Highlights the backing and encouragement from the public.

societal approval

Broadens the scope to encompass the entire society.

popular endorsement

Focuses on the aspect of popularity as a driver of approval.

public favor

Implies a sense of positive regard or goodwill from the public.

mass approval

Highlights the scale of approval, implying a large number of people.

community support

Specifies the approving entity as a local community.

popular acclaim

Suggests enthusiastic praise and recognition from the public.

FAQs

How can I use "public approval" in a sentence?

Use "public approval" to describe situations where a policy, action, or person is generally supported by the population. For example, "The president's handling of the crisis has led to a rise in his public approval ratings."

What's a good alternative to "public approval"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "public endorsement", "general acceptance", or "popular support". Each of these carries a slightly different nuance.

Is it better to say "public approval rating" or "approval rating"?

Both are acceptable, but "approval rating" is more concise and commonly used when the context clearly implies it's referring to public sentiment. "Public approval rating" can be used for clarity, especially if there's a chance of confusion with other types of approval.

How does "public approval" differ from "popular opinion"?

"Public approval" suggests a degree of endorsement or positive sentiment, while "popular opinion" simply reflects the prevailing view, which could be positive, negative, or neutral. You may gauge public approval through opinion polls which measure popular opinion on a topic.