a compelling need

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a compelling need" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong or urgent requirement for something. Example: "There is a compelling need for more research on climate change to understand its long-term effects."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I don't sort of feel a compelling need to convince other people of that".

The New Yorker

There is, in fact, a compelling need not to do it.

The New Yorker

"There is a compelling need for the international community, led by Africans, to address that".

The New York Times

"He doesn't seem to have a compelling need to exert his own ego.

The New York Times

"So there may be a compelling need for something like this.

The New York Times

LONDON — "MY dear Lady Disdain," as she is sometimes called, has been struck by a compelling need to confide.

The New York Times

There was no history of past discrimination to make up for, nor a compelling need for diversity.

The Economist

Like so many DeLillo characters before her, she feels a compelling need to try to seize control of her life.

The New York Times - Books

Tracking could be done only if officials could prove a compelling need and the agency head had personally authorized it.

The New York Times

There really is a compelling need for one".

BBC

Hence, there is a compelling need for discovering novel antidiabetic drugs.

Natural Products and Bioprospecting

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a compelling need", ensure the context clearly explains why the need is so strong. Provide specific details or evidence to support the claim.

Common error

While "a compelling need" is valid, avoid using it repeatedly in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "urgent requirement" or "pressing demand" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a compelling need" functions as a noun phrase, where 'compelling' acts as an adjective modifying the noun 'need'. It highlights the intensity and importance of the requirement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a compelling need" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase that signifies a strong and urgent requirement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its primary function is to emphasize the critical importance of something, often used to justify action or persuade others. It appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. While a valuable phrase, remember to vary your language and provide specific details to support your claims. Alternatives like "urgent requirement" or "pressing demand" can help avoid overuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an undeniable necessity

This alternative replaces 'compelling' with 'undeniable' and 'need' with 'necessity', emphasizing the irrefutable nature of the requirement.

a crucial necessity

This alternative uses 'crucial' to underscore the essential and decisive quality of the necessity.

a vital necessity

This alternative replaces 'compelling' with 'vital', emphasizing that the necessity is essential for life or success.

a pressing demand

This alternative uses 'pressing' and 'demand' to highlight the urgency and insistence of the need.

an urgent requirement

This alternative uses 'urgent' and 'requirement', conveying the time-sensitive and obligatory nature of the need.

a dire necessity

This alternative conveys that something is urgently needed to prevent a very bad situation from happening.

a critical imperative

This alternative replaces 'compelling need' with 'critical imperative', suggesting something that is crucial and unavoidable.

an absolute must

This alternative is more informal, indicating something that is essential and cannot be avoided.

a paramount importance

This alternative emphasizes the supreme importance of the matter, rather than a direct need.

an indispensable prerequisite

This suggests that something is an essential condition that must be met beforehand.

FAQs

How can I use "a compelling need" in a sentence?

You can use "a compelling need" to highlight something that is urgently required. For example: "There is "a compelling need" for more affordable housing in the city."

What are some alternatives to "a compelling need"?

Alternatives include "an urgent requirement", "a pressing demand", or "an absolute must", depending on the level of formality and specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a compelling need"?

It is appropriate to use "a compelling need" when you want to emphasize that something is not just desired, but is strongly necessary or required due to significant reasons or potential consequences.

Is "a compelling need" formal or informal language?

The phrase "a compelling need" falls within the spectrum of neutral to formal language. It is suitable for professional documents, academic papers, and news articles, but may sound slightly elevated in very casual conversations.