without his consent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'without his consent' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to something that has been done without the knowledge or agreement of the person it relates to. For example, "He bought the car without his father's consent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Phillip Carter, without his consent".

The New York Times

It's being done without his consent".

The Guardian - Opinion

Then a doctor allegedly ended his life — without his consent.

The New Yorker

No important decisions can be taken without his consent.

The Economist

No person may, without his consent, be tried a second time for the same offense.

Cornell University

He himself was born, without his consent, on 25 November 1880.

The Guardian - Books

Can it go so far as to invade another person's body without his consent?

The New York Times

According to LaTulippe's lawyers, LaTulippe's credit card was used without his consent by a team captain.

The New York Times - Sports

Without his consent, and without receiving a single dollar, he was becoming a caricature".

The New York Times - Books

But he was afraid that my aunt would marry me to someone without his consent.

The New York Times - Magazine

Pochettino had insisted no players would be leaving in this transfer window without his consent.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "without his consent" to denote actions taken that disregard the person's autonomy or right to make a decision.

Common error

Avoid using "without his consent" when the possessive pronoun 'his' is unclear or could refer to multiple individuals in the sentence. Rephrase to specify exactly whose consent is lacking.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without his consent" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the manner in which an action was performed. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "without his consent" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that an action occurred without someone's permission or agreement. As Ludwig highlights, this phrase is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, academic writing, and encyclopedias. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to make sure the referent of 'his' is unambiguous. Alternatives like "without his authorization" or "without his permission" can be used for nuanced emphasis. Avoid using the phrase if the pronoun reference is unclear to prevent misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without his permission

A direct synonym emphasizing the lack of granted allowance.

without his authorization

This phrase is slightly more formal and emphasizes the lack of official permission.

without his agreement

Focuses on the absence of a mutual understanding or accord.

without his approval

This highlights the absence of a positive endorsement or agreement.

lacking his endorsement

Emphasizes the absence of support or validation.

against his will

This phrase suggests a stronger opposition or reluctance.

absent his acquiescence

A formal way to express lack of agreement.

in defiance of his wishes

Highlights a direct contradiction or disregard for his desires.

without his knowledge

Implies that the person was unaware of the action taking place.

unbeknownst to him

A more literary way of saying "without his knowledge".

FAQs

What does "without his consent" mean?

The phrase "without his consent" means that an action was performed or something occurred without the permission or agreement of the person referred to by "his".

What are some alternatives to "without his consent"?

You can use alternatives like "without his authorization", "without his permission", or "against his will" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "without his consent"?

Yes, "without his consent" is grammatically correct and commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.

How can I use "without his consent" in a sentence?

For example, "The company used his image in their advertising campaign "without his consent"".