which approved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which approved" is not correct in standard written English as it lacks a clear subject and context.
It can be used in a sentence where "which" refers to a specific subject that has been approved, but it needs to be part of a complete thought. Example: "The proposal, which was approved by the committee, will be implemented next month."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And the other is ICARUS which approved at LNGS using liquid argon TPC.

Nuclear Physics B - Proceedings Supplements

He cites the 22 Perry Street decision, which approved only revokable permission.

The New York Times

Its decision followed a hearing Wednesday at the Delaware Chancery Court, which approved the action.

The New York Times

The delays have infuriated some members of Congress, which approved the funding transfer with bipartisan support.

The New York Times

This overrides previous advice, issued in 2006, which approved antiplatelets such as aspirin.

The Guardian

That vote would have to begin in the Assembly, which approved the spending bills first.

The New York Times

The caja remains 93 percent owned by the state banking agency, which approved Mr. Castellano's appointment.

The New York Times

Johns Hopkins, which approved the study, is not a defendant in the lawsuit.

The New York Times

Mr. Boren also sits on the board's compensation committee, which approved the new executive benefits last year.

The New York Times

"It's fair," Judah said after pleading his case before the commission, which approved the sanctions, 5-0.

The New York Times - Sports

When the right moment arrived, the plan was submitted to the Cabinet, which approved the operation unanimously".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that "which approved" is always part of a complete clause with a clear antecedent. For example, "The proposal, which approved the new budget, passed unanimously."

Common error

Avoid using "which approved" without a clear noun or phrase that 'which' refers back to. This can lead to ambiguity and grammatical errors. Always clarify what is doing the approving.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which approved" functions as part of a relative clause, modifying a noun or noun phrase. Ludwig AI indicates that it needs a clear subject to be grammatically sound. Without it, the phrase is incomplete.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

23%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "which approved" is a phrase used within relative clauses to add information about a previously mentioned noun. Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase needs a clear subject to be grammatically correct. While common across various sources, especially news and media, it's important to ensure that there is a clear antecedent to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives such as "that authorized", "that endorsed", or "that sanctioned" to enhance clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that authorized

This alternative uses 'that' as a relative pronoun, replacing 'which' and 'approved' with 'authorized' to indicate permission or endorsement.

that endorsed

This alternative uses 'that' as a relative pronoun and replaces 'approved' with 'endorsed', suggesting a more active and public show of support.

that sanctioned

This alternative replaces 'approved' with 'sanctioned', indicating official permission or approval, often by a governing body.

that ratified

This alternative changes 'approved' to 'ratified', which implies formal confirmation or validation of an agreement or proposal.

that validated

This alternative uses 'validated' instead of 'approved', highlighting the act of confirming the accuracy or legitimacy of something.

that passed

This alternative, 'that passed', suggests that something was formally accepted, especially after a vote or review.

that accepted

This alternative replaces 'approved' with 'accepted', which simply means to receive or regard favorably.

that cleared

This alternative replaces 'approved' with 'cleared', suggesting that something has been officially allowed to proceed after a review or check.

that adopted

This alternative substitutes 'approved' with 'adopted', implying that something has been formally accepted and put into practice.

that confirmed

This alternative uses 'confirmed' in place of 'approved', indicating that something has been verified or made definite.

FAQs

How to use "which approved" in a sentence?

The phrase "which approved" should be part of a relative clause, clearly linked to a noun. For example, "The committee, "which approved" the project, met today."

What can I say instead of "which approved"?

You can use alternatives like "that authorized", "that endorsed", or "that sanctioned" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "which approved" or "that approved"?

Both "which" and "that" can introduce relative clauses. "Which" is typically used for nonrestrictive clauses that add extra information, while "that" is used for restrictive clauses that are essential to the sentence's meaning. For clarity, always ensure the antecedent is clear.

What's the difference between "which approved" and "which was approved"?

"Which approved" is incomplete without a subject. The phrase "which was approved" includes the auxiliary verb "was", making it a passive construction. For example, "The plan, which was approved, will now be implemented" is grammatically correct.