a severe need

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a severe need" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an urgent or intense requirement for something, often in contexts related to help, resources, or support. Example: "The community is facing a severe need for clean drinking water after the recent natural disaster."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Whatever the answer, transportation officials say the results highlight a severe need for expanded and affordable mass transit.

The New York Times

I have a hard time understanding the notion that there's a severe need for more workers from abroad when wages for these jobs rose only 4.5percentt between 2000 and 2011.

Science Magazine

However, because accurate identification of future user behavior without considering the user's speech and behavior history is difficult, there is a severe need to develop other methods that more accurately describe user's interests as feature words for predicting a targeted behavior such as retweeting.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

Of course, it remains a potential solution if there is a severe need for cash.

Huffington Post

Would you say it is excellent, very good, good, fair or poor?" They reported that the single-item self-reported question had a sensitivity of 0.75 and a specificity of 0.67 in identifying persons with a severe need for denture care, compared with the clinical examination.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Monmouth County emergency officials said that they had set up two cooling stations, where the elderly and ill who have a more severe need for air-conditioning could find relief.

The New York Times

It goes on to say that the DfE has received no applications from groups wanting to open mainstream primary free schools in almost two thirds of districts in England, and none in half of the areas that are forecasting a high or severe need for places for 2015/16.

The Guardian

Charm has disappeared from the repertoire, and his seduction technique looks in severe need of a rethink.

Independent

Khaled Saleh, a spokesman for the SNC, said the plan for an interim government partly resulted from visits from various members of the coalition, including its head, Moaz al-Khatib, to rebel-held areas lacking electricity and running water: When they went inside, they felt the severe need for a government because we have large, liberated territories that need administration.

The Guardian

Patients enrolled in the present trial had a severe transfusion need, reflected in a high median transfusion demand before inclusion and a high median ferritin level.

Blood Cancer Journal

A patient with a severe unmet need for life balance may either be with or without resources to face this unmet need (e.g., he may or not have a good social network).

BMC Geriatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a severe need", ensure the context clearly indicates what is lacking and why it is critical. For example, "The hospital has "a severe need" for blood donations due to the recent increase in emergency cases."

Common error

Avoid using "a severe need" when a less urgent phrase would suffice. Overusing it can diminish its impact. For example, saying "The office has "a severe need" for more paperclips" is an exaggeration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a severe need" functions as a noun phrase that emphasizes the intensity and urgency of a particular requirement or lack thereof. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a severe need" is used to describe situations where something is urgently and critically required. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and usable, though its frequency is rare. It appears commonly in News & Media and Scientific contexts, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. When using this phrase, ensure the context justifies the strong language and clearly indicates the lacking resource or support. Alternatives like "a critical necessity" or "a pressing requirement" can also be considered, depending on the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a critical necessity

Replaces "need" with "necessity" and "severe" with "critical", emphasizing the indispensable nature of something.

a pressing requirement

Substitutes "need" with "requirement" and "severe" with "pressing", highlighting the urgency of the demand.

an urgent demand

Replaces "need" with "demand" and "severe" with "urgent", focusing on the immediacy of the request.

a dire necessity

Emphasizes the critical and urgent nature of the need by using "dire" instead of "severe".

a crucial requirement

Highlights the importance of the need by using "crucial" to indicate its significance.

an acute necessity

Indicates the sudden and urgent nature of the need by using "acute".

a vital requirement

Stresses the importance of the need by using "vital" to show it is essential.

an immediate demand

Focuses on the urgency of the need by using "immediate".

a compelling necessity

Highlights the strong and undeniable nature of the need by using "compelling".

a grave requirement

Underscores the seriousness and importance of the requirement using the adjective "grave".

FAQs

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

Use "a severe need" to emphasize an urgent or critical requirement. For example, "There is "a severe need" for affordable housing in the city." It highlights that the need is significant and pressing.

What are some alternatives to "a severe need"?

You can use alternatives such as "a critical necessity", "a pressing requirement", or "an urgent demand" to convey similar urgency.

Is it appropriate to use "a severe need" in formal writing?

Yes, "a severe need" is appropriate for formal writing when you need to emphasize the urgency and seriousness of a requirement. However, ensure the context justifies the strong language.

What's the difference between "a severe need" and "a strong need"?

"A severe need" implies a more critical and urgent situation compared to "a strong need". "Severe" indicates that the lack of something could have significant negative consequences, while "strong" simply indicates a high degree of necessity.