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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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doing what's needed

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

On whether government regulators are doing what's needed: People will question, say, the bailout of Bear Stearns, and that is a very important part of our process in the U. S. action is taken and we self-examine.

News & Media

Forbes

"He's doing what's needed, and he's having to fight some of his own people to do it".

News & Media

The New York Times

"If you're not doing what's needed of you, it has to be addressed," Messier said.

"The most important thing is to stop arguing about what is or is not possible and to get on with doing what's needed".

News & Media

The Guardian

PAGE 27 PAUL KRUGMAN The financial crisis has now spread to emerging markets, and policy makers still aren't doing what's needed.

News & Media

The New York Times

Doing what's needed to remain compliant and keep our jobs?

News & Media

TechCrunch
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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

If it says, "I need someone else to make it easier for me, someone to make me do what's needed". that's what's keeping you from being successful.

News & Media

HuffPost

We do what's needed, where it's needed most.

News & Media

The Guardian

"We will do what's needed - it's as simple as that - and I'm very clear on what's required, and expected, from both councillors and officers across the council.

News & Media

BBC

It's simple, affordable and just does what's needed, an appealing alternative for individuals who prefer not to pay hundreds for an iDevice.

News & Media

Huffington Post

"But the caveat here is if the people in charge of it actually do what's needed to be done, and if it's not pissed away on studies and stuff that's unrelated to recovery".

News & Media

Vice
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for highly formal academic journals, expand the contraction to "doing what is needed" to maintain professional standards.

Common error

Avoid using "doing what's needed" as a vague placeholder. Ensure that the preceding or following text clearly defines the specific requirements to avoid leaving the reader guessing.

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

90%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

As noted in Ludwig, "doing what's needed" acts as a gerund phrase that can function as a subject, object, or part of a predicate. It centers on the action of fulfilling an unspecified requirement defined by the context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

8%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0.7%

Social Media

0.3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "doing what's needed" is a versatile and correct phrase widely used in high-quality English writing to denote practical action. Ludwig AI shows that it appears most frequently in News & Media contexts, where it serves to describe institutional or individual problem-solving. While the contraction "what's" makes it slightly less formal, the core structure is robust enough for most professional communications. For the highest levels of formality, writers should consider expanding the contraction or using synonyms like "taking the necessary steps".

FAQs

Is it okay to use "doing what's needed" in a business report?

Yes, it is common in business media, but you might prefer a more precise alternative like "taking necessary action" for formal reports.

What is the difference between "doing what's needed" and "doing what's required"?

While similar, "doing what's required" often implies external mandates or rules, whereas "doing what's needed" leans toward practical necessity.

Can I replace "doing what's needed" with "doing what is necessary"?

Absolutely. "doing what is necessary" is more formal and is frequently found in legal or scientific documents.

Is "doing what's needed" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is a standard gerund phrase. In Ludwig examples, it is frequently used by authoritative sources like the BBC and The New York Times.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: