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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
I desperately required
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "I desperately required" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct form would be "I desperately require" or "I desperately needed," depending on the context. Example: "I desperately require assistance with this project to meet the deadline."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Formal & Business
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
60 human-written examples
He really wanted to help his friend Matthew Broderick, but he was busy with movies, lawsuits, making money, etc., so he could not devote the attention to writing and directing the play that it desperately required.
News & Media
I was dirty, exhausted, and judging from the rowdy Australians playing drinking games on the patio at 2 PM on Wednesday, not about to get the long sleep I so desperately required.
News & Media
Here is a path for desperately required short-term stimulus that also will help in meeting our desperate need to change our course from a reckless charge over the catastrophic climate change cliff.
News & Media
A feasible replacement for lead-based piezoelectric ceramics is desperately required for increasing environmental concerns.
Science
Highly active and robust nonprecious metal catalysts (NPMCs) are desperately required to address the cost and durability issues.
Science
The usual passion was evident but the derby desperately required a shot on target.
News & Media
New treatments are desperately required to combat increasing rate of dengue fever cases reported in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world.
Although, the production cost and the public acceptance are of paramount importance, huge funds are desperately required for further research in the field.
And, particularly after public spending fell in real terms during New Labour's first two years, public services desperately required investment.
News & Media
Other skills that are desperately required in the workplace – including the ability to apply logic, to problem solve and to work independently – may be, though.
News & Media
And how close they came to blowing it, a goal seven minutes from the end of a stale performance giving them the three points they so desperately required.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When expressing a strong need, use more common and grammatically correct phrases like "I desperately need" or "I urgently needed" to ensure clarity and avoid confusion.
Common error
Avoid using "desperately required" to describe your own needs; instead, opt for "desperately need" or "urgently needed" to align with standard English grammar.
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
1.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "I desperately required" functions as an incorrect expression of a past need. Ludwig AI indicates that standard English usage prefers "I desperately need" for present needs or "I desperately needed" for past needs.
Frequent in
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News & Media
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Formal & Business
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Less common in
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Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "I desperately required" is grammatically incorrect in standard English; the correct form is "I desperately need" for current needs or "I desperately needed" for past needs, as suggested by Ludwig. While the intention is to convey a strong sense of urgency or necessity, the incorrect phrasing undermines effective communication. It's advisable to use alternatives like "I urgently needed" or "I was in dire need of" to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy. Being aware of these nuances ensures you communicate effectively and maintain a professional tone.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
I desperately need
Replaces 'required' with 'need', offering a more common and grammatically sound expression of urgent necessity.
I urgently needed
Uses 'urgently' instead of 'desperately' and changes 'required' to 'needed', emphasizing the immediacy of the necessity in the past.
I was in dire need of
Emphasizes the severity of the need using 'dire need', creating a stronger sense of urgency and desperation.
I badly needed
Replaces 'desperately' with 'badly', providing a simpler and more direct way to express a strong need.
I really required
Substitutes 'desperately' with 'really' and keeps 'required' to soften the tone slightly while still indicating a genuine need.
I greatly needed
Uses 'greatly' to modify 'needed', indicating a significant level of necessity in a more formal way.
I had a pressing need for
Expresses the need as 'pressing', highlighting its urgency and importance, while reframing the sentence structure.
I was crying out for
Uses a more figurative expression to convey a strong, emotional need.
I stood in great need of
Conveys a formal way to express a strong need.
What I desperately needed was
Changes the sentence structure to emphasize what was needed, adding a slight stylistic variation while maintaining the core meaning.
FAQs
What's grammatically correct, "I desperately required" or "I desperately needed"?
"I desperately needed" is grammatically correct. "Required" in this context should be in the past tense to match the speaker's past need.
Is it okay to say "I desperately require"?
Yes, "I desperately require" is grammatically correct, expressing a current need. However, using "I desperately need" is more common.
How can I rephrase "I desperately required" to sound more natural?
You can use alternatives such as "I urgently needed", "I badly needed", or "I was in dire need of", depending on the context.
What's the difference between "I desperately need" and "I desperately required"?
"I desperately need" expresses a current, ongoing need, while "I desperately required" is grammatically incorrect. A correct phrasing for a past need would be "I desperately needed".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
1.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested