“To approve of” or “to approve”?
To approve of usually means to like something, to think something is good, and – perhaps – to recommend it.
- I approve of his shoes.
- I approve of this book. You ought to read it.
- Mrs Jones approved of her daughter’s friends.
To approve is often used in an official sense when something has been agreed or authorised.
- Parliament approved the law.
- This book is approved for use in schools.
