was cleared for

USAGE SUMMARY

"was cleared for" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It implies that something has been officially approved or given permission. For example, "The shipment was cleared for entry into the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Icarus was cleared for take off.

The New York Times

It was cleared for departure to Alaska.

The New York Times

Five years later, he was cleared for release.

Independent

In 2007 he was cleared for release.

The Guardian

"Therefore, he was cleared for release".

The New York Times

He was cleared for conditional release in 2010.

The New York Times

Shaker Aamer was cleared for release over two years ago.

The Guardian - Opinion

It later was cleared for several other malignancies.

The Washington Post

The proportion fell as more land was cleared for agriculture.

The Economist

His application was cleared for "administrative processing" only after my congressman became personally involved.

The Washington Post

Shier's barrister agreed with Walker and Blackburn, and the program was cleared for broadcast.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was cleared for", ensure that the context clearly indicates who granted the clearance and what specific activity or purpose was approved.

Common error

Avoid using "was cleared for" without specifying the limits or conditions of the clearance. For instance, instead of saying "the project was cleared", specify "the project was cleared for the initial phase only".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was cleared for" serves as a passive construction indicating permission or approval for a specific action or state. It highlights that an entity has met the necessary criteria to proceed, as seen in examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was cleared for" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction that indicates permission or approval for something. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it signifies that necessary conditions have been met for a particular action or status. While alternatives such as "was approved for" and "was authorized for" exist, "was cleared for" offers a neutral tone suitable for various professional communications. Remember to specify the scope of clearance and avoid vague implications to ensure clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was authorized for

Indicates formal permission has been granted. This shifts the emphasis to authorization versus a more general clearing.

was approved for

Highlights that official approval was received, similar to "was cleared for" but potentially more formal.

was given the go-ahead for

An informal phrase indicating permission to proceed, less formal than "was cleared for".

was sanctioned for

Implies official endorsement or permission, often in the context of rules or regulations.

had the green light for

A more idiomatic expression meaning permission was granted. It's less formal than "was cleared for".

was prepared for

Focuses on readiness and preparation, differing from the approval aspect of "was cleared for".

was licensed for

Indicates that a license or permit was obtained, which is a specific type of clearance.

was made ready for

Emphasizes the act of making something ready or suitable, shifting the focus from permission to preparation.

was deemed suitable for

Suggests an assessment of suitability or eligibility, rather than explicit clearance.

was passed for

Implies successful completion of a review process or test, granting permission for subsequent actions. This option is slightly less direct than "was cleared for".

FAQs

How is "was cleared for" used in a sentence?

Use "was cleared for" to indicate that something received approval or permission. For example, "The flight "was cleared for takeoff"" or "The medication "was cleared for distribution"".

What phrases are similar to "was cleared for"?

Similar phrases include "was approved for", "was authorized for", and "was given the go-ahead for", each carrying slightly different connotations of formality or context.

Is it correct to say "is cleared for" instead of "was cleared for"?

Yes, "is cleared for" is correct, but it indicates present clearance, while "was cleared for" indicates past clearance. For example, "The athlete is cleared for competition" means they are currently eligible, while "The athlete was cleared for competition" means they were eligible at some point in the past.

What is the difference between "was cleared for" and "was ready for"?

"Was cleared for" implies permission or approval, whereas "was ready for" indicates preparedness or suitability. The phrases have distinct meanings and should not be used interchangeably. The land "was cleared for construction", but wasn't ready for it.