be less necessary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be less necessary" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the diminishing importance or requirement of something in a particular context. Example: "As technology advances, certain manual tasks may be less necessary in the workplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

In that case, a deal for BlackBerry would be less necessary.

The New York Times

"The requirement of affection is built in from more romantic times, but women's need for romantic affection in the 21st century may be less necessary," he says.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

If you give people better access to preventive and routine care for chronic illnesses, some acute treatments will be less necessary".

The New York Times - Health

If we got enough sleep coffee would be less "necessary," and might actually work better if our tolerance was lower for when we needed a boost in a pinch.

The New York Times

You would think when it rains my water-carrying would be less necessary, but the rain seems to plunk down everywhere except where it would be useful, and on top of that kicks a mist of mud and gravel into the drinking trough.

The New Yorker

It's true that we live in a web-linked world where travel may often be less necessary; but you only have to get on a northern train – or at rush hours, try to do so – to realise the scale of demand.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

In affluent countries, by contrast, well-being analysis would often focus on capabilities that are less necessary for survival.

SEP

It is less necessary to be clubbable.

The New York Times

Thus, the argument goes, unions are less necessary.

The New York Times

Nothing is less necessary than a pet dog, or more needed.

The New Yorker

If the yuan goes global, it's less necessary for China to hold huge reserves, Song says.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be less necessary" to indicate a reduced level of importance or requirement, suggesting that something is still potentially useful but not essential.

Common error

Avoid constructing sentences that obscure the actor. Instead of "The decision will be less necessary if X happens", consider "If X happens, the decision becomes less necessary".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be less necessary" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, modifying a subject to indicate a reduction in its necessity or importance. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Examples from Ludwig show it used in diverse contexts ranging from technology to personal needs.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

33%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be less necessary" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to denote a reduction in the importance or requirement of something. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across diverse contexts. It's commonly found in news and media, as well as scientific publications, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates why something is "less necessary" and consider alternatives like "be less essential" or "be less crucial" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be less crucial

Replaces "necessary" with "crucial", emphasizing a slightly stronger degree of importance.

be less essential

Substitutes "necessary" with "essential", highlighting the fundamental importance of something.

be less vital

Uses "vital" instead of "necessary", stressing the life-sustaining or critical aspect of something.

be less important

Employs "important" as a direct replacement, focusing on the significance of something.

be less required

Replaces "necessary" with "required", indicating a formal need or obligation.

be less needed

Uses "needed" instead of "necessary", focusing on the practical requirement of something.

be of less importance

Rephrases the sentence structure to emphasize the diminished significance.

become less significant

Emphasizes the diminishing impact or relevance over time.

no longer be essential

Indicates a complete shift from being essential to not being so.

become obsolete

Suggests something is outdated and no longer useful or needed.

FAQs

How can I use "be less necessary" in a sentence?

You can use "be less necessary" to express that something is not as crucial or required as it once was. For example, "With the new software update, manual backups "are less necessary"".

What's a formal alternative to "be less necessary"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "be of diminished importance" or "be less essential". For instance, "Due to advancements in technology, physical archives "are of diminished importance"".

How does "be less necessary" differ from "be unnecessary"?

"Be less necessary" implies a reduction in importance or requirement, while "be unnecessary" suggests that something is completely avoidable or superfluous. It indicates a matter of degree instead of complete irrelevance.

What are some situations where something might "be less necessary"?

Situations include technological advancements that automate tasks, policy changes that remove requirements, or process improvements that streamline workflows. For example, "Now that we have automated testing, manual code reviews "are less necessary"".