a severe need for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a severe need for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express an urgent or intense requirement for something. Example: "The community has a severe need for affordable housing options to support its growing population."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 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

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

56 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

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

Commuters standing on crowded trains and drivers stuck in incessant and ever-growing traffic jams should be able to relate to the current problems and the severe need for relief.

The New York Times

It found that the the government had received no applications to open primary free schools in half of all areas in England that have high or severe need for places.

The Guardian

The report shows that in half of all districts with high or severe need for new places the Department for Education received no applications to open primary free schools.

BBC

It's outrageous that someone who has severe needs because of dementia is given £400 a week while a child with similarly severe needs, for instance because of a learning disability, will be told there is £3,000-£4,000 a week available.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a severe need for", ensure that the context clearly illustrates the urgency or critical nature of the need being described. Providing specific examples or consequences can enhance the impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a severe need for" in situations where the need is merely desirable or beneficial, rather than critical or essential. Overusing the phrase can dilute its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a severe need for" functions as a noun phrase that identifies an urgent or critical requirement. It highlights the intensity of the necessity, indicating that the situation demands immediate attention and action. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a severe need for" is a phrase used to emphasize the urgency and criticality of a requirement. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While the phrase appears across various contexts, it is most commonly found in news and scientific sources. It is important to use this phrase judiciously, reserving it for situations where the need is truly critical to avoid diluting its impact. Alternatives such as "an urgent necessity for" or "a critical requirement for" can be used depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an urgent necessity for

Replaces 'severe need' with 'urgent necessity', emphasizing the critical timing.

a critical requirement for

Substitutes 'need' with 'requirement', highlighting the essential nature of the demand.

a pressing demand for

Changes 'severe need' to 'pressing demand', stressing the immediacy and intensity.

a dire necessity of

Emphasizes the extremity of the situation by using 'dire necessity'.

a crucial demand of

Replaces 'need' with 'demand' and 'severe' with 'crucial', indicating a high level of importance.

a vital imperative for

Uses 'vital imperative' instead of 'severe need' to convey a sense of undeniable obligation.

an acute requirement of

Replaces 'severe' with 'acute' to denote a sudden and intense need.

a paramount importance of

Focuses on the supreme significance of the requirement.

a fundamental requisite of

Highlights the basic and indispensable character of the need.

an exigent demand for

Substitutes 'severe need' with 'exigent demand', indicating an immediate and pressing requirement.

FAQs

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

You can use "a severe need for" to highlight an urgent or critical requirement. For example, "There is "a severe need for" affordable housing in the city".

What are some alternatives to "a severe need for"?

Alternatives include "an urgent necessity for", "a critical requirement for", or "a pressing demand for" depending on the context.

How does "a severe need for" differ from "a strong need for"?

"A severe need for" indicates a more critical and urgent requirement compared to "a strong need for", which suggests a significant but not necessarily critical requirement.

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

Yes, "a severe need for" is appropriate in formal writing when accurately describing a critical or urgent requirement. Be sure the context justifies the intensity of the language.