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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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be on the needs

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be on the needs" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It seems to be an incorrect construction and lacks clarity in meaning. Example: "We need to be on the same page regarding the needs of the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The focus was to be on the needs of scholars, but much-needed services would also be provided to the general public.

"The focus isn't going to be on the needs of banks," Mr. Obama's chief economic adviser, Lawrence H. Summers, said on the CBS program "Face the Nation".

News & Media

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He said the focus would be on the need for the government and private industry to cooperate in enhancing computer security.

News & Media

The New York Times

"We don't missionize, and the focus should have been on the needs of destitute Holocaust survivors".

News & Media

Huffington Post

In this article the focus is on the needs of novice students.

Where both camps agree is on the need to be more selective in picking municipal bonds.

News & Media

The New York Times

The emphasis throughout the document is on the need for more flexible and agile forces.

News & Media

The Guardian

Their only point of agreement is on the need to suspend democracy.

Where Trump and the city bosses might agree is on the need for more infrastructure expenditure.

The emphasis in Miliband's speech is on the need to create more middle-income private sector jobs.

News & Media

The Guardian

The focus is on the need to assess business process performance early in the redesign process, to prevent organisational failures.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to express a focus on requirements, prefer using phrases like "focus on the needs", "address the needs", or "be responsive to the needs". This ensures clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using the preposition "on" directly after "be" when discussing needs. Instead of saying "be on the needs", opt for more precise formulations like "be attentive to the needs" or "focus on the needs", which clearly convey the intended meaning.

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be on the needs" does not conform to standard English grammar. Its intended function, inferred from context, would be to indicate a state of focusing or addressing specific requirements. However, the phrasing is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that it is not a proper construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be on the needs" is grammatically incorrect and lacks clarity in standard English, as noted by Ludwig AI. While the intended meaning is to convey a focus on specific requirements or necessities, more appropriate alternatives include "focus on the needs", "address the needs", or "be responsive to the needs". These alternatives ensure grammatical correctness and clear communication. Although examples exist across various sources, including news and media, the overall frequency of this phrase is rare, and writers should avoid using it in favor of more precise language.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say that something is related to someone's needs?

Instead of "be on the needs", consider phrases such as "focus on the needs", "address the needs", or "be responsive to the needs". The choice depends on the specific context.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "be on the needs"?

Alternatives include "focus on the requirements", "attend to the needs", or "cater to the necessities". These options are grammatically sound and convey a similar meaning.

How can I use the word "needs" correctly in a sentence?

Ensure clarity by pairing "needs" with verbs like "address", "meet", or "focus on". For instance, "We need to address the urgent needs of the community" is grammatically correct.

Which phrase is more appropriate: "be on the needs" or "focus on the needs"?

"Focus on the needs" is more appropriate because it is grammatically correct and clearly conveys the intention to concentrate on specific requirements. Ludwig AI indicates that "be on the needs" is not a proper construction.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: