delete if necessary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "delete if necessary" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when giving instructions that allow for the removal of content or information if it is deemed unneeded. Example: "Feel free to add your comments to the document, and delete if necessary any sections that you think are redundant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

In any case, the classified pages of the 9-11 report must be publicly released, with names deleted if necessary.

Huffington Post

Password protect your computer account, delete your history if necessary, hide borrowed DVDs in backpacks, in drawers, underneath a couch, etc.

WikiHow

The ancestral mt genome must therefore have been streamlined by massive "gene loss"; these genes were either transferred from the mitochondrial to host genomes (endosymbiotic gene transfer) or deleted if they were no longer necessary for the host endosymbiont partnership (Adams and Palmer 2003).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Aww/eww – delete as necessary.

The Guardian

Using the system scientists can target specific sections of DNA, delete them, and if necessary, insert new genetic sequences.

Independent

And there is the convenience of being able to see the result immediately, which allows users to delete inferior images and, if necessary, shoot additional ones.

The Economist

Time commitments vary between experts, but as each question simply needs to be read and then have a box ticked if necessary to delete it, this is simple and quick to do.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Workshop participants were asked to change, combine, or delete proposed items and add additional items if necessary.

European Journal of Human Genetics

It means I can go back to previous drafts if necessary and use something I'd previously deleted.

The Guardian - Books

Delete the songs from your iPod and re-add them if necessary.

WikiHow

If necessary, manual correction was performed by moving, adding, or deleting tag intersections.

Clinical Research in Cardiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When providing instructions, use "delete if necessary" to allow flexibility in removing content that may not be relevant or needed. This empowers the user to make informed decisions about what to keep or discard.

Common error

Avoid using "delete if necessary" when a more specific action is appropriate. If the condition for deletion is always met, a more direct instruction to delete is preferable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delete if necessary" functions as an instructional element, guiding users to conditionally remove content. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is usable in written English. It prompts action based on a condition, as seen in the provided examples where files or data are removed under specific circumstances.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

42%

News & Media

20%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "delete if necessary" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to provide conditional instructions for removing content. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability across diverse contexts, from Wiki articles to News & Media. Its register ranges from neutral to informal, making it suitable for a broad audience. When writing instructions, consider using this phrase to empower users with the flexibility to tailor their actions based on relevance. Keep in mind that while frequent, overuse should be avoided in favor of more specific actions when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remove if needed

Replaces "delete" with "remove" and "necessary" with "needed", maintaining the conditional action.

erase if required

Substitutes "delete" with "erase" and "necessary" with "required", emphasizing the elimination aspect.

omit if applicable

Changes the action to "omit" and condition to "applicable", focusing on relevance.

discard if unwanted

Replaces "delete" with "discard" and "necessary" with "unwanted", highlighting the disposal aspect.

cancel if unneeded

Changes the action to "cancel" and condition to "unneeded", implying cessation.

eliminate if superfluous

Substitutes "delete" with "eliminate" and "necessary" with "superfluous", stressing redundancy.

withdraw if inappropriate

Changes the action to "withdraw" and condition to "inappropriate", focusing on suitability.

edit out if not needed

Specifies "edit out" for deletion and uses "not needed" for condition, making it more explicit.

exclude if unsuitable

Changes the action to "exclude" and condition to "unsuitable", emphasizing a lack of fitness.

correct by deleting if required

Adds context of correction through deletion, making the purpose clearer.

FAQs

How to use "delete if necessary" in a sentence?

You can use "delete if necessary" when giving instructions that allow for the removal of content or information if it is deemed unneeded. For example: "Feel free to add your comments to the document, and "delete if necessary" any sections that you think are redundant."

What can I say instead of "delete if necessary"?

You can use alternatives like "remove if needed", "erase if required", or "omit if applicable" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "delete if necessary" or "deleted if necessary"?

"Delete if necessary" is an instruction. "Deleted if necessary" would be used to describe something, for example: "The file was deleted if necessary."

What's the difference between "delete if necessary" and "delete when necessary"?

"Delete if necessary" implies a conditional action based on a specific criterion being met or not. "Delete when necessary" suggests acting at the point in time when it becomes essential.