this was approved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this was approved" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has received official consent or validation in a past context. Example: "After reviewing the proposal, I can confirm that this was approved by the board last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was approved by the ethics committee of the Medical University of Vienna (approval number: EK 2010/034).

F1000Research

This was approved on Wednesday by Atlanta probate court.

The Guardian - Music

This was approved by America's Food & Drug Administration despite another very shaky start.

The Guardian

This was approved – but then Mr King and his team decided it was not economically viable.

Independent

Today, Peter Mandelson, who was Labour's business secretary when all this was approved, has changed his mind.

The Guardian - Opinion

This was approved in the name of traffic calming, but in effect prevented thousands of traders like Nguyen from working.

The Guardian

However, Yeshayahu Etgar, lawyer for the Hoffe sisters, said the documents were a "private inheritance" and this was approved in a 1974 court ruling ratifying Brod's will.

The Guardian

Mr. Klaus has asked for an opt-out to a charter of right attached to the treaty, and the wording of this was approved by all 27 nations.

The New York Times

This was approved by the Senate in 1992 under George H.W. Bush, so Trump could find himself in legally murky waters if he decides to withdraw unilaterally.

The Washington Post

A spokeswoman said it has been "a mystery" why Mr Aamer was not released in 2007 when this was approved by the Bush administration or again in 2009 when approved by President Obama.

Independent

"We are extraordinarily upset that this was approved, and it comes at a difficult time for our industry, where there are record bankruptcies, increasing fuel and insurance costs and a multitude of factors that make it difficult to pass these costs along," she said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "this was approved" when you want to clearly state that something has received official consent or validation in the past. It's particularly useful in formal reports, legal documents, and scientific papers where clarity and precision are essential.

Common error

While "this was approved" is grammatically correct, excessive use of the passive voice can make your writing sound vague or impersonal. Consider using the active voice when possible to clearly identify who granted the approval. For instance, instead of saying "this was approved", you could say "the committee approved this".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this was approved" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a subject (represented by "this") has received official consent or validation. Ludwig examples show its use in diverse contexts, from scientific studies to news reports, confirming its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this was approved" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase commonly used to indicate that something has received official consent or validation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears across diverse contexts, from scientific studies to news reports and Wiki articles, showcasing its broad applicability. While the phrase is generally neutral to professional in register, it's important to be mindful of the passive voice and consider using active constructions for clarity and emphasis. Given its high frequency and consistent usage, "this was approved" remains a reliable and effective choice for conveying approval in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this received approval

Focuses on the action of receiving approval rather than the state of being approved.

this gained approval

Similar to "received approval" but implies a process or effort leading to the approval.

this was authorized

Emphasizes the official permission or sanction given.

this was sanctioned

Highlights the formal or authoritative nature of the approval.

this was ratified

Suggests a formal confirmation or validation, often by a governing body.

this was endorsed

Implies public support or recommendation, in addition to approval.

this met with approval

Highlights the positive reception or acceptance of something.

this was given the green light

An idiomatic expression indicating permission to proceed.

this had the go-ahead

Similar to "given the green light", emphasizing permission to start.

this passed muster

Indicates that something has been deemed satisfactory or acceptable after scrutiny.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "this was approved" to be more active?

Consider using active voice constructions such as "the committee "approved this"", "the board "endorsed this"", or "the council "authorized this"" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "this was approved" and "this is approved"?

"This was approved" indicates that the approval occurred in the past. "This is approved" suggests that something currently holds approval or is in a state of being approved.

Is "this was approved by" grammatically correct?

Yes, "this was approved by" is grammatically correct. It specifies who or what granted the approval (e.g., "This was approved by the board of directors").

Are there more formal alternatives to "this was approved"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "this was ratified", "this was sanctioned", or "this was authorized", depending on the specific context and the level of formality required.