"It was approved" vs "It was being approved"

Question

"It was approved" vs "It was being approved"

Both phrases are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. 'It was being approved' indicates that the approval process was ongoing at a specific point in the past, while 'it was approved' indicates that the approval process was completed in the past.

Last Updated: March 30, 2024

This phrase is used to indicate that something received approval at a specific point in the past.

Examples:

The project was approved by the board last week.

Alternatives:

It received approval
It got the green light

This phrase is used to describe a situation where something was in the process of being approved at a specific point in the past.

Examples:

At 3 p.m. yesterday, the document was being approved by the committee.

Alternatives:

It was in the process of being approved
It was under consideration for approval

Answer 1

It was approved

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that something received approval in the past.

Answer 2

It was being approved

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate an ongoing approval process in the past.

"It was approved" vs "It was being approved"

It was approved

It was being approved

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