without our consent

USAGE SUMMARY

"without our consent" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used when discussing an agreement, right, or action taken without the knowledge or approval of all involved parties. For example: The contract was signed without our consent, leaving us without legal recourse.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When things change without our consent, when they aren't truly ours, what is there that is secure and safe?

WikiHow

They spend our money, without our consent.

University of California, Berkeley

They tax us without our consent.

University of California, Berkeley

We are all being experimented on without our consent".

The Guardian

But they did and it was without our consent.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It shouldn't have been published without our consent".

The New York Times

Anybody who enters without our consent is an invader," he said.

The Guardian

Corporations gather, store and analyse this data, often without our knowledge, and typically without our consent.

The Guardian - Tech

"It's obvious the government cannot proceed without our consent," he said.

The New York Times

"This is sovereign territory, and they are not going to collect a nickel without our consent".

The New York Times

The risk is real, and we shouldn't be asked to assume it without our consent.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "without our consent", ensure clarity regarding who "our" refers to, especially in contexts involving multiple parties or stakeholders. Clearly define the group whose consent is required for the action being discussed.

Common error

Ensure the pronoun "our" is clearly defined to avoid confusion. Instead of saying "the data was used without our consent", specify "the data was used without the patients' consent" to remove ambiguity and improve clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without our consent" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the manner in which an action was performed. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

14%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "without our consent" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that an action has been taken without the permission or agreement of a particular group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as an adverbial phrase expressing disapproval or highlighting a violation. This phrase is most frequently found in news and media, science, and academic contexts. When using the phrase, it's important to ensure that the pronoun "our" is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "without our approval" or "without our knowledge" can provide nuanced emphasis. Understanding the proper context and potential alternatives enhances clarity and precision in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without our agreement

Focuses specifically on the lack of mutual agreement.

without our approval

Highlights the absence of formal endorsement or permission.

without our permission

Directly emphasizes the lack of authorized consent.

unbeknownst to us

Emphasizes the lack of knowledge or awareness on our part.

without our knowledge

Similar to 'unbeknownst to us', stressing the absence of awareness.

against our will

Highlights that action has been taken despite direct opposition.

contrary to our wishes

Emphasizes that an action opposes our desires or preferences.

in defiance of our authority

Highlights a challenge to authority and a deliberate act of disobedience.

absent our endorsement

Stresses the lack of formal support or validation.

without our say-so

Informal way of indicating the absence of authorization or permission.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "without our consent" to sound more formal?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases such as "without our approval", "without our authorization", or "absent our endorsement". For instance, instead of "the changes were implemented without our consent", you could say "the changes were implemented "without our approval"".

Is there a difference between "without our consent" and "without our knowledge"?

"Without our consent" implies that an action was taken without permission, whereas "without our knowledge" suggests a lack of awareness. The former indicates a violation of a right or agreement, while the latter simply means we were unaware of the action.

What are some alternatives to "without our consent" that emphasize disagreement?

To emphasize disagreement, you could use phrases like "against our will" or "contrary to our wishes". These alternatives highlight active opposition rather than just a lack of permission, for example, "the policy was enacted "against our will"".

When is it appropriate to use "without our consent"?

"Without our consent" is appropriately used when discussing actions or decisions that affect a group and were made without seeking or obtaining their permission. This phrase is suitable in legal, ethical, and general contexts where permission is expected or required.