expressed a need for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expressed a need for" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when indicating that someone has communicated a requirement or desire for something. Example: She expressed a need for more resources to complete the project. Alternative expressions include "articulated a need for," "communicated a need for," and "voiced a need for."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That the Government of Afghanistan has requested or expressed a need for the program or project.

Cornell University

Within these themes, clinicians consistently expressed a need for reliable basic testing, especially haemograms and bacterial cultures.

Stanford University

In 1957, companies in Greater Boston expressed a need for a management development program to meet their unique requirements.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The analysis showed that about half of the family members expressed a need for bereavement follow-up.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

I was spending the weekend with my sister Lisa, gearing up for six weeks of travel, when her husband, Bob, expressed a need for light bulbs.

The New Yorker

As our population aged and more children became school-aged, our employees expressed a need for summer care options.

Forbes

Focus group participants routinely expressed a need for high quality, free hospitals, and medical services in their communities.

Journal of International Humanitarian Action

Both teachers from public and private schools expressed a need for systematic, in-service training courses in listening instruction.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

Both U.S. and Turkish students expressed a need for more training and education on entrepreneurship to start a new business.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Pivotal has actually been seeing open source show up as an RFP requirement, and companies have expressed a need for freedom from vendor lock-in.

TechCrunch

One participant stated "we want it all" and expressed a need for a multiplex platform to identify several agents.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the nuance you want to convey. "Expressed a need for" is generally neutral. If you want to emphasize urgency, consider "demanded" or "required". If you want to soften the tone, try "indicated".

Common error

Avoid using "expressed a need for" without specifying the need. For example, instead of saying "The company expressed a need for improvement", specify "The company expressed a need for improved customer service" to provide more clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expressed a need for" functions as a verb phrase that introduces a noun phrase. According to Ludwig, this phrase is typically used to describe the act of communicating a requirement or desire. It specifies that someone has articulated or made known a particular need.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

Academia

15%

News & Media

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expressed a need for" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the communication of a requirement or desire. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely used across various contexts, from academic and scientific writing to news and general communication. The phrase functions as a verb phrase introducing a noun phrase, and its purpose is to inform the audience about the existence of a communicated need. Related phrases include "articulated a need for" and "communicated a need for", which offer subtle variations in emphasis. When using this phrase, clarity and specificity are key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

articulated a need for

Emphasizes a clear and explicit communication of the need.

communicated a need for

Focuses on the act of conveying the need, without necessarily implying clarity or explicitness.

voiced a need for

Highlights the verbal expression of the need.

indicated a need for

Suggests a less direct expression, perhaps through actions or subtle cues.

signaled a need for

Implies a non-verbal or indirect way of showing the need.

requested

Focuses on the action of asking for something.

required

Highlights the necessity of something.

expressed a desire for

Shifts the focus from necessity to wanting something.

expressed a wish for

Emphasizes a hope or longing for something.

exhibited a need for

Focuses on demonstrating the need through actions or behaviors.

FAQs

How to use "expressed a need for" in a sentence?

You can use "expressed a need for" to indicate that someone has communicated a requirement or desire. For example, "The students "expressed a need for" more practical examples in their lessons".

What can I say instead of "expressed a need for"?

You can use alternatives like "articulated a need for", "communicated a need for", or "voiced a need for" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "expressed a need for" or "expressed the need for"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "expressed a need for" is generally preferred when the need is not previously defined or specific. "Expressed the need for" is used when referring to a previously established need.

What's the difference between "expressed a need for" and "expressed a desire for"?

"Expressed a need for" indicates a requirement or something essential, while "expressed a desire for" indicates a want or preference that is not necessarily essential. The phrase "expressed a desire for" is about wishes.