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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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a focused needs

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a focused needs" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be a grammatical error, as "needs" is a plural noun and should not be preceded by the singular article "a." Example: "The project requires a focused approach to meet the specific needs of our clients."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In phase one a focused needs assessment will be conducted with key informants.

Phase 1 involves a focused needs assessment of key informants (clinicians, educators, administrators) who plan and provide palliative/oncology care.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In challenging these beliefs, a focus needs to be on dispelling perceptions of positive outcomes from using online child health information and addressing perceptions of potential negative outcomes.

To facilitate data use, a focus needs to be placed on what stakeholders need to know to effectively run health programs, on the practical questions data users have about their programs, and the upcoming decisions that they have to make.

There is a focused sense that we need to get back before it gets dark.

We needed a focused person for a chief operating officer.

News & Media

Forbes

We need a focused public that demands reasoned proposals to address our present challenges.

News & Media

Huffington Post

We need a focused, well-funded national effort to implement smart grids and decentralized renewable energy.

News & Media

Huffington Post

"There comes a time when a prosecutorial focus needs to be developed as information is gathered and facts are developed," said Lewis D. Schiliro, who ran the New York office of the F.B.I. from 1998 to 2000.

News & Media

The New York Times

With a smaller enrolment of teachers, the role of NIE has to be re-examined and a stronger focus needs to be placed on in-service teacher education to continue to improve the quality of teachers in Singapore.

A greater focus needs to be put on rehabilitation of breast cancer patients, work-place adaptations and research on long-term sequelae of treatment.

Science

Plosone
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing requirements, use "a targeted need" or "a specific need" instead of "a focused needs" for grammatical accuracy. For example: The project requires a targeted approach to meet the specific needs of our clients.

Common error

Avoid using the singular article "a" before the plural noun "needs". Instead, consider rephrasing to use a singular noun or a more appropriate adjective. For instance, instead of "a focused needs", opt for "a targeted need" or "specific needs".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a focused needs" functions as a noun phrase attempting to describe particular requirements. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect due to the mismatch between the singular article "a" and the plural noun "needs".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a focused needs" attempts to convey the idea of targeted requirements, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect due to the singular article "a" preceding the plural noun "needs". Though it appears in various contexts, including news media and scientific publications, its grammatical flaw impacts its appropriateness, especially in formal writing. For improved clarity and accuracy, it's advisable to use alternatives such as "a targeted need" or "a specific need". Remember to prioritize grammatical precision to enhance communication and credibility.

FAQs

How can I correctly express the concept of 'a focused needs' in a sentence?

Since "a focused needs" is grammatically incorrect, it's better to use phrases like "a targeted need", "a specific need", or simply "focused needs" depending on the context. For example, instead of saying "The project requires a focused needs", you can say "The project requires "a targeted need"".

What are some alternatives to 'a focused needs' that maintain a similar meaning?

Alternatives include "a specific need", "a concentrated need", or reframing the sentence to use "focused needs" without the article 'a'. Consider what aspect you want to emphasize – is it the specificity, the concentration, or simply the focus?

Is 'a focused needs' ever grammatically correct?

No, "a focused needs" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English because the singular article 'a' is used before the plural noun 'needs'. It's recommended to rephrase to maintain grammatical accuracy.

What is the difference between 'a focused need' and 'focused needs'?

While "a focused needs" is incorrect, "a focused need" refers to a single, specific requirement that has been given particular attention. "Focused needs", without the article 'a', refers to multiple requirements that have been given particular attention. For example, "The organization addresses focused needs of children in the community."

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Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: