being in need of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being in need of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a requirement or necessity for something. Example: "The charity organization is dedicated to helping families being in need of food and shelter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An individual has to fulfil two conditions to gain eligibility: he or she has to be perceived as being "in need" of receiving the service or product in question and also "able to benefit" from it.

BMC Public Health

However, in all patients identified as being in need of psychological care, discussing well-being scores was well received, confirming previous research (10).

Diabetes Care

It was surprising that you singled out two such legislators — Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried and Assemblywoman Deborah J. Glick — as being in need of a challenge.

The New York Times

The state has classified the high school as being in need of improvement under the federal No Child Left Behind law.

The New York Times

But the service that Aneurin Bevan founded is regarded as being in need of change.

BBC

On the other hand, (widetilde {min}_{j}) is biased only if the least skilled among the (truly) well-matched reports being in need of training.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

However, many of them perceived those groups of students that are different from the normal students as being in need of assistance.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

He also said the UN had a responsibility "to stand up against regimes that persecute their people" and singled out Yemen and Syria as being in need of reform.

BBC

Ones that look at Africa as more of an investment than being in need of a handout.

Vice

In some cases, the conditions are so bad that some agree to sign voluntary return forms, despite being in need of international protection. .

Vice

VicTheia Mckenzie is a hUN Officets and global health reporter based in Medellin and NYC.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "being in need of", ensure the context clearly identifies what is lacking or required. Clarity prevents ambiguity and strengthens your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "being in need of" in simple sentences where a more direct verb like "needing" or "requiring" would suffice. For example, instead of saying "The plant is being in need of water", say "The plant needs water".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being in need of" functions as a prepositional phrase often used to modify nouns or pronouns, indicating a state of requiring something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a usable phrase in English, indicating a current necessity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "being in need of" is a prepositional phrase commonly used to express a state of deficiency or requirement. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in English. Its frequency is very common across various contexts, particularly in scientific and news publications. While generally neutral to formal, it's important to avoid overuse in simple sentences. Consider using alternatives like "requiring" or "needing" for brevity when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

requiring

Changes the structure to a single verb, indicating a current necessity.

needing

Similar to "requiring" but emphasizes a personal or direct necessity.

requiring assistance

Specifies that help is needed, not just something material.

in want of

An older, more formal way of saying "in need of".

lacking

Focuses on the absence of something essential.

in short supply of

Highlights scarcity or limited availability.

deficient in

Highlights a specific shortage or inadequacy.

dependent on

Emphasizes reliance on an external source for support.

inadequately supplied with

Focuses on the insufficient amount of resources or provisions.

struggling with

Conveys a difficult situation where needs are not easily met.

FAQs

How can I use "being in need of" in a sentence?

Use "being in need of" to describe a state of deficiency or requirement. For example, "The refugees are "being in need of" shelter and food."

What are some alternatives to "being in need of"?

You can use alternatives like "requiring", "needing", or "lacking" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "being in need of" or "needing"?

"Being in need of" is generally considered slightly more formal than "needing", but both are acceptable in many contexts. The choice depends on the overall tone and style of your writing.

What is the difference between "being in need of" and "requiring"?

"Being in need of" describes a state or condition, while "requiring" suggests an active demand or necessity. "The patient is "being in need of" care" emphasizes the patient's condition, whereas "The situation is "requiring" immediate action" emphasizes the urgency of the situation.