essential need

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "essential need" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize a fundamental requirement or necessity in various contexts, such as personal, professional, or societal needs. Example: "Access to clean water is an essential need for all communities to thrive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The focus of his best prose narrows to essential need.

The New Yorker

Ms. Love said that such gatherings meet an essential need.

The New York Times

Every tabloid editor I can recall has struggled with that essential need for balance.

The Guardian

When will Congress come face to face with the essential need for health care as paramount among all needs?

The New York Times

Our legions of unemployed writers need it, but is there an essential need for something like those guides today?

The New York Times

The FCO said: "If you're in Tunisia and you don't have an essential need to remain you should leave by commercial means.

The Guardian

Nothing in Justice Goldstone's personal comments changes the essential need to provide the victims of the assault on the Gaza Strip with access to justice".

The Guardian

All the study groups, conferences, receptions, sports and theatre events, and gatherings with no essential need have been cancelled this month.

The New Yorker

"Even in a severe economic environment, shelter remains an essential need and people will still need a roof over their heads," he said.

The New York Times

The unchecked ranged from a Web-based map of public spaces to the essential need to convene business leaders to develop strategies for job growth.

The New York Times

Something shifted for me in that moment; I was not only able to understand the essential need for humor when telling a story but to access it as well.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "essential need", ensure that the context clearly establishes why the need is crucial. Providing specific examples or consequences of not meeting the need can strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "essential need" for minor conveniences or preferences. Reserve it for situations where the lack of the need being met would lead to significant negative consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "essential need" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It emphasizes the critical importance of a requirement or necessity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "essential need" is a commonly used and grammatically correct noun phrase that emphasizes the critical importance of a requirement. Ludwig AI affirms its validity and offers numerous examples across various contexts, including news, science, and business. The phrase conveys a sense of urgency and indispensability, making it suitable for formal and neutral registers. While alternatives like "basic necessity" and "critical requirement" exist, "essential need" remains a strong and effective choice for highlighting fundamental requirements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critical requirement

Replaces "need" with "requirement", emphasizing the obligatory nature of the necessity.

basic necessity

Substitutes "essential" with "basic" and "need" with "necessity", highlighting the fundamental nature of the requirement.

indispensable requirement

Emphasizes that the requirement cannot be done without.

fundamental requisite

A more formal alternative, replacing "essential" with "fundamental" and "need" with "requisite", stressing importance.

vital necessity

Uses "vital" to underscore the importance and urgency of the need.

key prerequisite

Highlights the necessity of the need as a precondition for something else.

core demand

Replaces "essential" with "core" and "need" with "demand", emphasizing the central importance of the request or provision.

urgent imperative

Highlights the pressing nature of the need, suggesting it requires immediate attention.

primary obligation

Frames the "essential need" as a duty or responsibility that must be fulfilled.

chief desideratum

A more sophisticated alternative, indicating something that is earnestly desired or needed.

FAQs

How can I use "essential need" in a sentence?

You can use "essential need" to emphasize the importance of something. For instance, "Access to clean water is an "essential need" for survival."

What are some alternatives to "essential need"?

Alternatives include "basic necessity", "critical requirement", or "fundamental requisite", depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "essential need"?

While "need" itself implies a requirement, using "essential need" can add emphasis to the critical or indispensable nature of that requirement. It clarifies the high degree of importance.

When is it appropriate to use "essential need" versus "important need"?

"Essential need" should be used when the need is absolutely necessary and fundamental, while "important need" can be used for needs that are significant but not necessarily critical for survival or basic functioning. An "essential need" would be healthcare, whereas an "important need" might be access to recreational activities.