was approved by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was approved by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has received official consent or endorsement from a person or organization. Example: "The new policy was approved by the board of directors during the last meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His reprieve was approved by the world.

The Economist

This rule was approved by Pope Honorius III.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The treaty was approved by unanimous consent.

The New York Times

"This law was approved by the scholars.

The New York Times

The change was approved by acclamation.

The Guardian

The study was approved by Salus IRB.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

This project was approved by Ethics Committee.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

The study was approved by the institutional ethics research committee.

Insights into Imaging

The project was approved by the local Ethics Committee.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

The study was approved by the local Helsinki committee.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Board Review.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was approved by", ensure that the entity doing the approving is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The budget was approved by the finance committee."

Common error

Avoid vague statements like "The plan was approved," without specifying who approved it. Always provide context to clarify the approving authority, as in "The plan was approved by the city council after a public hearing."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was approved by" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a subject received authorization or endorsement from a specific entity. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its correct usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was approved by" is a very common and grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that something has received official authorization or endorsement. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various domains. It is most frequently encountered in scientific and news-related contexts, reflecting its role in reporting authorized studies, policies, and decisions. When using this phrase, it's essential to clearly specify the approving entity to avoid ambiguity and ensure clarity. While alternatives like "was sanctioned by" or "was authorized by" exist, "was approved by" remains a widely accepted and versatile choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was sanctioned by

Emphasizes official permission or authorization, often implying a formal process.

was authorized by

Highlights the granting of power or right to perform an action.

was endorsed by

Suggests public support or recommendation, often by a well-known figure or organization.

was ratified by

Implies formal confirmation or validation, typically by a legislative body.

was validated by

Focuses on confirming the accuracy or legitimacy of something.

was permitted by

Highlights the granting of permission to do something.

was cleared by

Indicates that something has passed a review process and is free to proceed.

was given the nod by

An informal way to express that something has been approved.

met with the approval of

Rephrases the sentence structure to focus on the reception of something.

received the green light from

Indicates that permission has been given to start or continue a project.

FAQs

How can I use "was approved by" in a sentence?

The phrase "was approved by" indicates that something has received official consent or endorsement from an entity. For example, "The research proposal /s/was+approved+by the ethics committee".

What are some alternatives to "was approved by"?

You can use alternatives such as "was sanctioned by", "was authorized by", or "was endorsed by" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was approved from" instead of "was approved by"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "was approved" is "by". Saying "was approved from" is grammatically incorrect.

What does it mean when something "was approved by default"?

When something "was approved by default", it means that it was automatically approved because no objections or negative responses were received within a specified timeframe.