exactly necessary

USAGE SUMMARY

"exactly necessary" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something is absolutely essential or indispensable. For example: "A good night's rest is exactly necessary if you want to perform well on your exams tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

And even that was not exactly necessary.

The Washington Post

"My presence, you see, is not exactly necessary".

The New York Times

Founding his own company in 1954, he was among the first to do product licensing deals - later joking that "my presence is not exactly necessary" to making money.

The Guardian

There's a certain irony in noting that just as Ethiopia is encouraging plantations along the Omo basin of cotton, one of the thirstiest crops and not exactly necessary for food, farmers in Australia's drought-hit Murray-Darling basin are being pressured to give it up.

BBC

Sure, you might think the attendance of a snarky humor columnist isn't exactly necessary for a trade show, but everything can benefit from an injection of stupid, and I'm just the guy to supply it.

Huffington Post

They're not exactly necessary, but they do make it so nothing is off-limits to you.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

At the last moment the Party obtained exactly the necessary 244 Chamber seats to sit on without immediate danger.

The New Yorker

And the list was republished by various media, leaving most of us wondering exactly how necessary Miracle Whip, French Vanilla Creamer and Pall Mall Menthols really are when you're staging your own Wild West-style federal overthrow.

Independent

Unfortunately, some local politicians have begun an unseemly squabble as to whose idea it was to transfer the Picture House, and how exactly the necessary improvements to the cinema should have been funded – through the local tax increase or by means of a loan.

The Guardian

Indeed, unstructured propositionalism entails that there is exactly one necessary proposition.

SEP

It will be an invaluable teaching tool for graduate macroeconomic courses". "… provides the reader with exactly the necessary computational tools to solve the dynamic general equilibrium models macroeconomists care about.

Springer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "exactly necessary", ensure the context emphasizes a precise requirement rather than a general need. This phrase works best when highlighting that something is not just needed, but specifically and precisely so.

Common error

Avoid using "exactly necessary" for situations where a simple "necessary" suffices. Overusing "exactly" can dilute its emphasis and make your writing sound redundant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exactly necessary" functions as an intensified adjective phrase, modifying a noun to emphasize the precise and indispensable nature of something. It conveys a stronger sense of requirement than simply using "necessary". Ludwig examples show its uses in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

28%

Wiki

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exactly necessary" is an intensified adjective phrase used to emphasize a precise and critical need. While grammatically correct and usable, as Ludwig AI points out, its frequency is uncommon, making it best suited for contexts where clarity and specificity are paramount. Found frequently in News & Media and Science, it conveys a stronger sense of requirement than simply using "necessary". When employing this phrase, ensure that the context warrants the emphasis on exactness to avoid redundancy. Alternatives like "absolutely essential" or "strictly required" can provide similar emphasis with subtle variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolutely essential

Emphasizes the critical importance of something, heightening the sense of necessity.

utterly indispensable

Highlights that something is impossible to do without, strengthening the necessity aspect.

completely vital

Stresses the life-sustaining or crucial nature of something.

strictly required

Focuses on the mandatory nature, emphasizing compliance and regulation.

precisely needed

Draws attention to the exactness of the requirement, pinpointing specific needs.

entirely crucial

Emphasizes the decisive importance, suggesting that something is a turning point.

indisputably requisite

Highlights that the requirement is undeniable and foundational.

unquestionably vital

Emphasizes that its vitality is without doubt or question.

absolutely imperative

Highlights the urgency and commanding nature of something.

wholly critical

Stresses the comprehensive importance of something in a given situation.

FAQs

How can I use "exactly necessary" in a sentence?

Use "exactly necessary" to emphasize that something is not just needed, but specifically and precisely required in a particular situation. For example: "Providing the correct tools is exactly necessary for completing the task efficiently."

What phrases are similar to "exactly necessary"?

Alternatives include "absolutely essential", "utterly indispensable", or "strictly required", each highlighting a nuanced degree of necessity or requirement.

Is it better to say "necessary" or "exactly necessary"?

Use "exactly necessary" when you want to emphasize the precision and specificity of the necessity. If the context doesn't require such emphasis, "necessary" is sufficient.

When is it appropriate to use "exactly necessary" in formal writing?

It's appropriate when you need to highlight a precise and critical requirement. However, overuse can make your writing sound overly formal or redundant, so use it judiciously.