Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
was previously authorized
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "was previously authorized" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something received approval or permission in the past. Example: "The project was previously authorized by the board before any work commenced."
✓ Grammatically correct
Academia
News & Media
Science
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
60 human-written examples
A second legal opinion issued in December 2004, which defined torture more broadly, did not repudiate interrogation techniques that had been previously authorized.
News & Media
But a second legal opinion issued in December 2004, which defined torture more broadly, did not repudiate interrogation techniques that had been previously authorized.
News & Media
Multiple submission of papers to satisfy one requirement within the Department and one outside the Department constitutes academic fraud unless such submission has been previously authorized in writing by both professors involved.
Academia
Mr. Abbas, meeting with a delegation from J Street, an American lobbying group that describes itself as "pro-Israel and pro-peace," said 3,000 guns from Egypt and Russia sitting in Jordan had been previously authorized, but were now blocked from entering the Palestinian territories.
News & Media
However, most of those authorizations about $85 billion—were for activities that were already being carried out under prior law or that were previously authorized and that PPACA authorized for future years.
News & Media
Those currently in the U.S. on revoked visas will still be allowed to live in the U.S. for the term of their visa and do the things they were previously authorized to do, such as working or attending school, a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman told HuffPost.
News & Media
So if you're executing previously authorized transactions at the end of the day, you send First Data a batch of tokens, and it relays the card numbers on to the bank.
News & Media
It was previously known that glyphosate consumption in water above authorized limits may provoke kidney failure and reproductive difficulties [ 43].
The total was expected to exceed 140,000 when previously authorized missions were fully deployed.
Encyclopedias
The state is contributing $25 million from previously authorized bonds, and the federal government is providing $2.4 million.
News & Media
If your task was defined as: Take the previously authorized T.A.R.P. money, and in combination with Federal Reserve action, use leverage and Fed powers to take as many toxic assets off bank balance sheets as possible, then this is the plan you might devise after a lot of head scratching.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "was previously authorized", ensure the context clearly indicates who granted the authorization and under what conditions. For example, "The expenditure was previously authorized by the finance committee for emergency repairs."
Common error
Avoid using "was previously authorized" without explicitly stating the source or basis of the authorization. Failing to do so can lead to ambiguity and potential misunderstandings.
Source & Trust
79%
Authority and reliability
4.4/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "was previously authorized" functions as a passive verb phrase indicating that an action, plan, or decision had received official permission or approval at some point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.
Frequent in
Academia
33%
News & Media
33%
Science
33%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "was previously authorized" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that indicates something received approval or permission at an earlier time. It functions as a passive verb phrase with a neutral to professional register. While its frequency is relatively rare, Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts such as academia, news and media, and science. To ensure clarity, it's best to specify who granted the authorization. Alternatives like "had prior authorization" or "was approved earlier" can be used depending on the specific context.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
had been authorized before
This alternative maintains a similar structure, simply rephrasing the sequence of the words.
had prior authorization
This version uses a noun phrase ("prior authorization") instead of the verb phrase "previously authorized".
received prior approval
Replaces "authorized" with "approval", which is a more common and slightly less formal term.
was approved earlier
This is a more concise alternative using "approved" and "earlier" to convey the same meaning.
was sanctioned beforehand
This option replaces "authorized" with "sanctioned", suggesting a more formal or official endorsement.
was permitted in advance
Here, "authorized" is substituted with "permitted", indicating permission was granted earlier.
had been cleared previously
Using "cleared" instead of "authorized" suggests a process of review and approval.
was endorsed earlier
Replaces "authorized" with "endorsed", implying support or recommendation.
had pre-authorization
This is a shorter, more technical term, especially in medical or bureaucratic contexts.
was validated beforehand
This alternative emphasizes the aspect of confirming or verifying authority in advance.
FAQs
How can I use "was previously authorized" in a sentence?
Use "was previously authorized" to indicate that something received approval or permission at an earlier time. For example, "The project expansion "was previously authorized" by the board last quarter".
What are some alternatives to "was previously authorized"?
Alternatives include "had prior authorization", "received prior approval", or "was approved earlier". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.
Is there a difference between "was previously authorized" and "is currently authorized"?
"Was previously authorized" indicates past authorization, while "is currently authorized" means it's authorized now. If something "was previously authorized", that doesn't necessarily mean it still is.
Can I use "was previously authorized" in formal writing?
Yes, "was previously authorized" is suitable for formal writing. However, ensure clarity by specifying who granted the authorization. In less formal contexts, simpler alternatives like "was approved earlier" may be more appropriate.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
79%
Authority and reliability
4.4/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested