decent needs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decent needs" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing basic or reasonable requirements, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "In order to ensure a good quality of life, we must address the decent needs of all community members."

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A decent enough climber and time trialist, it's just that decent needs to become excellent if he wants to compete with the big boys.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A decent groove needs time.

The Guardian - Music

Any decent revolution needs its leaders to surface in times of doubt, and for Columbus, there's only one hero who could shoulder that burden.

The Guardian - Sport

Any decent country needs a balance between public and private investment.

Huffington Post

"You don't need decent legs, you need attitude," the designer countered.

Huffington Post

The decent people need to get a grip.

The Guardian - Opinion

Thousands of homeless families and others waiting for decent homes need those apartments.

The New York Times - Arts

Turkmenistan's first president, Saparmurat Niyazov, similarly insisted that his autobiographical "Ruhnama" contained everything any decent Turkmen needed to know.

The Economist

Right now, ordinary, decent people need to stand up for those progressive values and not just take them for granted.

The Guardian - Arts

After busily digging up streets and laying wires, cable companies failed to offer the enticing programming or decent service needed to win and keep customers.

The Economist

Some of the advocates here assert that decent housing need cost no more than indecent housing, but the figures are not clear.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decent needs", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes 'decent'. Be specific to avoid ambiguity. For example, "decent housing needs" is more understandable than just "decent needs".

Common error

Avoid using "decent needs" without specifying the area of need. General statements like "society has decent needs" are too broad. Instead, focus on particular areas such as "decent healthcare needs" or "decent educational needs".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decent needs" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "decent" modifies the noun "needs". It describes the quality or standard of the needs being referred to. Ludwig suggests it isn't standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decent needs" is used to describe necessities that meet an acceptable standard. While grammatically correct, Ludwig suggests it isn't commonly used and may cause confusion. The phrase is found across various contexts including News & Media, Formal & Business and Science, indicating a neutral register. However, because of its relative infrequency, alternative phrases such as "basic requirements" or "adequate necessities" might provide greater clarity and are recommended as more common and understandable substitutes. Ensure that the context clearly defines what "decent" implies when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Basic requirements

Focuses on the fundamental aspect of necessities, implying a minimum standard.

Adequate necessities

Highlights sufficiency and essentiality rather than a qualitative measure.

Reasonable demands

Emphasizes fairness and justification in what is being requested.

Fair expectations

Suggests that what is needed aligns with principles of justice and equity.

Suitable prerequisites

Highlights the conditions or requirements that must be met beforehand.

Appropriate provisions

Focuses on supplying or making available what is necessary or suitable.

Essential criteria

Highlights the indispensable standards or benchmarks.

Minimum standards

Emphasizes the lowest acceptable level of quality or performance.

Just entitlements

Highlights what someone rightfully deserves or is owed.

Proper entitlements

Focuses on what is due or befits a particular situation or person.

FAQs

What does "decent needs" mean?

"Decent needs" refers to requirements that meet a basic standard of acceptability or appropriateness in a particular context. It implies that the needs are not merely met, but met in a way that respects dignity and quality of life.

How can I use "decent needs" in a sentence?

You can use "decent needs" to describe the basic requirements for a good standard of living. For example, "The government should ensure everyone's "basic needs", including access to decent food and shelter, are met."

What can I say instead of "decent needs"?

You can use alternatives like "basic requirements", "adequate necessities", or "reasonable demands" depending on the context.

Is "decent needs" formal or informal?

"Decent needs" is generally considered neutral in tone. While not overly formal, it's suitable for various contexts where a moderate level of formality is appropriate.