competing requirement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "competing requirement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where multiple requirements are in conflict or need to be balanced against each other. Example: "In this project, we have to address the competing requirements of cost efficiency and quality assurance."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The occasional effects of ectopic RNR1 expression in wild type and rad9Δ cells may reflect a critical balance between the competing requirement during nutrient depletion to maintain sufficient dNTPs to complete S phase at early stages and to downregulate RNR1 at later stages.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Both Israel and Egypt express their understanding of the competing requirements faced by United States forces around the world, especially in light of the war on terror," a statement issued by the three countries said.

The New York Times

When Isle de Jean Charles first began exploring avenues to fund their resettlement plan, it soon became a complex patchwork of funding sources, each with its own distinct – and sometimes competing – requirements.

The Guardian

"The reality is that there are always competing requirements when it comes to public health funding," said Laura Segal, a spokeswoman for the Trust for America's Health, a nonprofit health research group in Washington.

The New York Times - Health

After years in which policy has been buffeted by competing requirements for efficiency, cheapness, social justice, productivity and greenery that at least is welcome.Few experts were looking for Sir Rod to recommend specific projects.

The Economist

The development of high-performance supercapacitors (SCs) often faces some contradictory and competing requirements such as excellent rate capability, long cycling life, and high energy density.

Journal of Power Sources

Fractionation is found to be particularly advantageous when the science goals are broad, when there are competing requirements between goals, and when the exploration environment is particularly treacherous.

Acta Astronautica

The best operating frequency (f) is a balance between the competing requirements of licensing, good backscattered power, which goes as 1/f 2, and favors a lower frequency, and the reflection height, which goes as f, and favors a higher frequency.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

Efficient cooling and high neutron source density are competing requirements which can be best reconciled by moving the target material out of the reaction zone and removing the heat elsewhere before returning the material back into the proton beam.

Journal of Nuclear Materials

This paper examines how water is allocated across the competing requirements for water but also across the competing legal, economic and administrative scales embodied by the competing water users; and thus it also details the pre-judicial mechanism used to resolve the conflict over these competing scales.

Journal of Hydrology

Quite how the bulk collection of U.K. users' Internet browsing activity will be squared with European data protection legislation, currently being drafted with a new data protection directive set to be introduced later this year — which may place competing requirements on ISPs when it comes to user data retention — remains to be seen.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "competing requirement", clearly define all requirements involved to avoid ambiguity. This strengthens your argument and allows for a more nuanced discussion.

Common error

Avoid treating "competing requirements" as completely isolated issues. Often, they are interconnected, and addressing one can impact the others. Acknowledge this interdependence in your analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "competing requirement" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "competing" modifies the noun "requirement". It describes a situation where multiple requirements are in opposition, needing careful consideration, balancing or prioritization. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "competing requirement" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe conflicting needs or demands. Ludwig AI's analysis of numerous real-world examples reveals that it's frequently used in scientific, news, and business contexts. When writing about "competing requirements", remember to clearly define each requirement and acknowledge any interdependence between them. Alternative phrases like "conflicting demand" or "trade-off" can be used depending on the context. By following these guidelines, you can effectively communicate complex situations involving conflicting priorities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

competing demand

A more general term emphasizing that different entities compete for the same resource.

conflicting demand

Focuses on the conflicting nature of the demand, emphasizing the incompatibility.

conflicting obligation

Focuses on the obligations that are in conflict, creating a sense of duty.

opposing need

Highlights the opposing nature of the needs, suggesting a direct conflict.

contradictory imperative

Emphasizes the contradictory nature of the imperative, suggesting a logical inconsistency.

opposing constraint

Highlights the limitations that are opposing each other.

rival obligation

Stresses the competitive nature of the obligation, indicating a struggle for resources or attention.

contending necessity

Emphasizes the struggle between competing necessities.

trade-off

Identifies the need for a balance between different choices.

balancing act

Implies the difficulty to reconcile different needs.

FAQs

How can I use "competing requirement" in a sentence?

You can use "competing requirement" to describe situations where different needs or demands are in conflict. For example, "The project manager faced a tough challenge due to the "competing requirement" of staying within budget and meeting the deadline."

What's a good alternative to "competing requirement"?

Alternatives include "conflicting demand", "opposing need", or "trade-off", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "competing requirements" or "competing requirement"?

Both are grammatically correct. "Competing requirements" is used when referring to multiple conflicting needs, while "competing requirement" refers to a single instance where requirements are in conflict. The plural form is more common.

How does a "competing requirement" differ from a "standard requirement"?

A standard requirement is a general need or specification, whereas a "competing requirement" implies that the fulfillment of one requirement hinders or complicates the fulfillment of another. This creates a need for compromise or prioritization.