without previous approval

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without previous approval" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where permission or consent is required before taking an action or making a decision. Example: "You are not allowed to make any changes to the project without previous approval from your supervisor."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In contrast to the practice in England, an American executor, or administrator, is not permitted to take any step without previous approval of the Probate Court, which normally requires that all interested parties be formally notified.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In some countries, herbal remedies are marketed without previous approval of their efficacy and safety by regulatory bodies [ 1].

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In the meantime, the current members of the National Assembly have little wiggle room, as Mr Maduro was granted special powers to pass laws without the Assembly's previous approval.

BBC

Monday's action by Mr. Morales goes further, revoking all previous approvals.

The New York Times

After IRB approval and signed informed consent, 18 women with severe PE without previous antihypertensive treatment were randomized to U or N groups.

Critical Care

This followed a notice printed in "Osservatore Romano," which said that the declaration read by the Austrian clergy had been "drawn up without any previous consultation or subsequent approval of the Holy See".

The New York Times

Never dye your hair without your parents' approval.

WikiHow

Without such approval, they automatically lapse.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Disney refused to close without Brazilian approval.

The New Yorker

The talks started without parliamentary approval.

The Economist

"I return herewith, without my approval.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, especially in legal or official contexts, use "without previous approval" to clearly state that an action requires explicit authorization before it can be taken.

Common error

Do not assume that silence or lack of explicit denial equates to "previous approval". Always seek clear affirmative consent to avoid misunderstandings or potential violations of rules and regulations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without previous approval" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or action, indicating a condition under which the action is not permissible. As confirmed by Ludwig, the expression is considered correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "without previous approval" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote that an action is prohibited unless authorized beforehand. According to Ludwig, it is indeed a correct expression. It appears in a variety of contexts, including news reports, encyclopedic entries and scientific papers, with usage tilting towards formal and professional settings. While not exceptionally common, its meaning is clear, and several alternative phrases exist for stylistic variation, such as "without prior authorization" and "without express permission". It's essential to avoid assuming tacit consent and always seek explicit authorization when using or interpreting this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without prior authorization

Replaces "previous" with "prior" and "approval" with "authorization", offering a slightly more formal tone.

without express permission

Emphasizes that the permission was not explicitly given.

without advance consent

Uses "advance" instead of "previous" and "consent" instead of "approval", implying explicit agreement was needed beforehand.

without prior clearance

Substitutes "approval" with "clearance", suggesting a formal process of permission is involved.

without official sanction

Uses "official sanction" to replace "approval", indicating a formal endorsement is lacking.

without the go-ahead

An informal alternative, replacing "approval" with the idiomatic "go-ahead".

unapproved

A shorter, more direct adjective meaning "not approved".

on one's own authority

Implies the action was taken independently, lacking any external endorsement.

without endorsement

A general term meaning lacking support or validation.

independently

Implies that the action was undertaken without anyone else's agreement.

FAQs

What is a more formal way to say "without previous approval"?

A more formal alternative to "without previous approval" is "without prior authorization" or "without express permission".

Is it acceptable to use "without previous approval" in legal documents?

Yes, "without previous approval" is acceptable, but in legal documents, it may be more precise to use "without prior written consent" to specify the type of approval required.

What's the difference between "without previous approval" and "without prior consent"?

"Without previous approval" and "without prior consent" are largely interchangeable, but "approval" often implies a more formal process than "consent". Consider the context when choosing.

How can I rephrase "You cannot proceed without previous approval"?

You can rephrase it as "You must obtain "advance authorization" before proceeding" or "Proceeding requires "prior clearance"".