are needed for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are needed for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is required or necessary in order to accomplish something. Example: "Skillful leadership and strong communication skills are needed for a successful team project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Six votes are needed for a decision.

The Economist

All are needed for success.

The Guardian

Reservations are needed for the water taxi.

The New York Times - Travel

More quick wickets are needed for Australia.

The Guardian - Sport

Ten are needed for proper prayer.

The New York Times

No tickets are needed for this free event.

The New York Times

Twenty-four votes are needed for an override.

The New York Times

No permits are needed for any of these.

The Guardian - Travel

Funds are needed for operations other than the police.

The New Yorker

Disaster Relief -What immediate provisions are needed for the survivors?

The New York Times

Reservations are needed for groups of six or more only.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are needed for", ensure the sentence clearly states what is requiring the need. Ambiguity can weaken the statement.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive voice when using "are needed for". Active voice often creates a stronger and more direct statement. For example, instead of "Resources are needed for the project", consider "The project needs resources".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are needed for" functions as a linking verb phrase indicating a requirement or necessity. As Ludwig confirms, it's a grammatically sound and widely used expression. The examples show it connecting a subject (e.g., 'funds', 'votes') to a condition or purpose.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are needed for" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to express that something is required or necessary for a particular purpose. As verified by Ludwig, its usage spans various contexts, from news and scientific writing to business communications. It's crucial to maintain clarity by specifying what requires the need, and to be mindful of using the active voice for a stronger, more direct statement. While "are needed for" is widely accepted, related alternatives like "are required for" or "are essential for" can offer nuanced variations depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are required for

Replaces "needed" with the synonym "required", maintaining a formal tone.

are necessary for

Substitutes "needed" with "necessary", indicating essentiality.

are essential for

Emphasizes the critical importance by using "essential" instead of "needed".

are vital for

Highlights the importance using "vital", suggesting indispensability.

are crucial for

Replaces "needed" with "crucial", emphasizing the significance.

are indispensable for

Uses "indispensable" to express that something is absolutely necessary.

are instrumental for

Emphasizes the role of something as a means to achieve a specific outcome.

are important for

Uses a more general term, "important", to indicate the significance.

are useful for

Indicates that something provides a benefit, rather than being strictly required.

are helpful for

Suggests assistance or support, rather than absolute necessity.

FAQs

How can I use "are needed for" in a sentence?

The phrase "are needed for" is used to express that certain things are required or essential to achieve a specific goal or purpose. For example, "Specific tools "are needed for" this repair".

What can I say instead of "are needed for"?

You can use alternatives like "are required for", "are necessary for", or "are essential for" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "is needed for" or "are needed for"?

Use "is needed for" with singular nouns and "are needed for" with plural nouns. For example, "A permit is needed for this activity" versus "Permits "are needed for" these activities".

What's the difference between "are needed for" and "are used for"?

"Are needed for" implies a requirement or necessity, while "are used for" describes the typical function or purpose. For example, "Specific tools "are needed for" the surgery" indicates those tools are required; "Specific tools are used for the surgery" describes the tools' purpose.