without his assent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without his assent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that something is done without someone's agreement or approval. Example: "The decision was made without his assent, leading to significant disagreements within the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The Port Authority can't make a move without his assent, but it has no obligation to listen to the mayor.

The New Yorker

By opening this show without his assent, the museum has broken faith with the artist, the public and art itself.

The New York Times - Arts

A12 Egypt Overhauls Divorce Law Egypt will put in place today one of the Muslim world's most far-reaching overhauls of family law, enabling a woman to divorce her husband, with or without his assent.

The New York Times

By Wednesday afternoon, as he walked into the meeting just off the House chamber, Mr. Kyl had become a challenge for his fellow negotiators: Leaders from both parties say no deal can be reached without his assent, but getting that assent has become next to impossible.

The New York Times

The Court held that in the wake of the Fourteenth Amendment, Congress lacks "any general power, express or implied, to take away an American citizen's citizenship without his assent".

Huffington Post

According to film historian Jeffrey Vance, "although he relied upon associates to arrange varied and complex instrumentation, the musical imperative is his, and not a note in a Chaplin musical score was placed there without his assent".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Pialat is an obstinately worldly director who films a miracle as he'd film a bad romance, a shattered family, or a criminal plot, as a brute fact that unleashes its energy without winning his assent.

The New Yorker

As the meeting in the conference room came to a close, Obama turned to Wen and asked: "Do you agree?" Wen nodded his assent without speaking.

The Guardian

He nodded his assent.

The Guardian - Books

Harlan wrote: Responding to the assertion that Congress did not have power to revoke a person's citizenship without his or her assent, Harlan predicted that "Until the Court indicates with greater precision what it means by 'assent', today's opinion will surely cause still greater confusion in this area of the law".

Wikipedia

He knows that without German assent his own efforts will flail.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "without his assent", ensure the context clearly identifies who "his" refers to, especially if multiple male figures are involved in the situation. Clarity is key.

Common error

Avoid using "without his assent" in highly informal contexts. While grammatically correct, it may sound overly formal or stilted in casual conversation. Simpler phrases like "without asking him" or "without his okay" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without his assent" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate that an action or decision occurred lacking the approval or agreement of the person referred to as 'his'. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and examples show its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

17%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "without his assent" is a grammatically sound and relatively formal way to express that something occurred without someone's approval or agreement. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and suitable for written English. While the phrase is often used in news and media, as well as wiki entries, it can be replaced with similar and less formal expressions like "without his consent" or "without his approval" depending on the context. When using "without his assent", ensure clarity regarding who "his" refers to, and consider the level of formality appropriate for your audience. Avoiding this phrase in informal context will improve communication and make it more clear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without his consent

Replaces "assent" with "consent", a direct synonym indicating agreement or permission.

without his approval

Substitutes "assent" with "approval", another synonym emphasizing endorsement or positive regard.

without his agreement

Replaces "assent" with "agreement", focusing on mutual understanding and acceptance.

without his authorization

Uses "authorization" instead of "assent", implying a formal permission or sanction.

without his permission

Employs "permission" instead of "assent", indicating explicit allowance to do something.

lacking his endorsement

Uses a different structure emphasizing the absence of his support or backing.

absent his concurrence

Replaces with a more formal term, suggesting a lack of simultaneous agreement.

devoid of his sanction

Employs "sanction", implying the absence of formal approval or penalty for disobedience.

not having his blessing

Uses a more idiomatic expression indicating lack of support or approval.

contrary to his wishes

Shifts the focus to acting against his desires, implying disapproval.

FAQs

What does "without his assent" mean?

The phrase "without his assent" means that something was done without the agreement, approval, or permission of the person referred to as "his".

What can I say instead of "without his assent"?

You can use alternatives like "without his consent", "without his approval", or "without his permission", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "without their assent"?

Yes, "without their assent" is grammatically correct. It is used when referring to a group of people whose agreement or approval was not obtained.

How formal is the phrase "without his assent"?

The phrase "without his assent" is relatively formal. In less formal contexts, simpler alternatives like "without asking him" or "without his okay" might be more appropriate.