How to use "pending review"

What Does "pending review" Mean?

• The phrase "pending review" means that something is waiting to be examined, assessed, or evaluated before a decision or action is taken. It indicates a state of temporary suspension or postponement until the review process is completed.
• The meaning is compositional; "pending" means awaiting or until, and "review" refers to an examination or assessment.
• The register is neutral to formal.

How to Use It

• Grammatical pattern: adjective + noun
• Typical objects: decision, investigation, approval, outcome, legislation, application, case, status, etc.
• The components cannot be separated. You cannot insert words between "pending" and "review" without altering the meaning or making the phrase ungrammatical.
• What sounds unnatural: Using a synonym for "review" that doesn't fit the formal context (e.g., "pending check-up"), using an active verb construction when a passive one is needed (e.g., "reviewing pending" instead of "pending review").

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from pending review on Ludwig.guru.

"(4)Detention pending review." — Cornell University

"Time said it was suspending Mr. Zakaria's column for a month, pending review." — The New York Times

"Judge Downing stayed his decision pending review by the Washington Supreme Court." — The New York Times

"The official spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing the pending review." — The Washington Post

"The United Nations has temporarily suspended humanitarian assistance missions pending review of the security situation," it said." — The Guardian

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/pending+review

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
under review	Similar meaning, but implies the review is actively happening.
awaiting review	Similar meaning, emphasizes the waiting aspect.
subject to review	Emphasizes that the item is governed by a review process.
being assessed	Focuses on the assessment process itself, less formal.
awaiting consideration	Suitable when the review involves a more deliberative process.
on hold	More informal, implies temporary suspension.
in abeyance	More formal and legalistic, suggesting a temporary suspension of activity.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing "pending review" with "under review." "Pending review" emphasizes the waiting period before the review, while "under review" implies the review is currently in progress.
• Using an active verb phrase where "pending review" is more appropriate. For example, saying "We are reviewing the application pending" instead of "The application is pending review."
• Incorrectly separating the phrase. "Pending" functions as an adjective modifying "review", so they should not be separated by other words.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
pending review	Awaiting examination or assessment before a decision or action is taken.	adjective + noun	Neutral to Formal

FAQs

Can the words in "pending review" be separated?

No, the words in "pending review" should not be separated. "Pending" acts as an adjective directly modifying "review," and separating them would disrupt the meaning and grammatical structure.

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What is the difference between "pending review" and "under review"?

"Pending review" suggests something is waiting to be reviewed, while "under review" indicates the review process is currently active. Use "pending review" when something is paused awaiting the start of the review; use "under review" when the evaluation is already in progress.

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What's wrong with saying "reviewing pending" instead of "pending review"?

Saying "reviewing pending" is grammatically incorrect in most contexts where "pending review" is typically used. "Pending review" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, whereas "reviewing pending" would require a different sentence structure and meaning (e.g., "We are reviewing [something], pending [another event]").