forestall the need for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "forestall the need for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing actions taken to prevent a situation or requirement from arising. Example: "Implementing these measures will help to forestall the need for additional funding in the future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

To forestall the need for a drought emergency, officials are urging people to begin saving water.

The New York Times

So Chinese specialists say Beijing's strategy is to scare Taiwan from proclaiming its independence and forestall the need for military action.

The New York Times

Recently the government cancelled plans to cap an individual's care liability at £72,000 over a lifetime, plans that would, in many cases, forestall the need for people to sell their homes in order to finance their care.

The Guardian - Opinion

For instance, Mr. Scott said Wednesday that Wal-Mart had sold 145 million compact fluorescent light bulbs, which he said had saved enough electricity to forestall the need for three coal-fired power plants in the United States.

The New York Times

Since Wal-Mart began heavily marketing them two years ago, it has sold 145 million bulbs, saving enough electricity, it says, to forestall the need for three coal-fired power plants in the United States.

The New York Times

Mourning, a 30-year-old All-Star center, will undergo treatments for the condition, focal glomerulosclerosis, within the next six months to see whether his system can first respond to medicine to forestall the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Would the $50 billion slush fund called for in the Obama reform package raised by taxes on the big banks be sufficient to forestall the need to bail out Citigroup by means of a $45 billion capital injection and a $306 billion guarantee of its liabilities?

Forbes

Aside from sounding like an ad for a chemical compound that forestalls the need to sleep, it seems to play into a popular narrative that technology allows us to be connected all the time without any apparent side effects.

The New York Times

And more forcefully than any American president since his fellow Texan Lyndon Johnson, Mr. Bush has argued the need for pre-emptive action to forestall violence that -- no less than Cooper's marshal -- he alone was sure would occur.

The New York Times

Forestalling such inhumane occupancy licensing ordinances -- and obviating the need for costly legal challenges -- offers sufficient reason for Congress to express a clear intent to bar such local and state laws in S.744.

Huffington Post

Federal officials spoke of the need for testing, assessment and proper procedures to forestall unnecessary environmental damage in the cleanup, while state officials denounced what they saw as indifference and inaction in the face of the environmental damage that was already taking place.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "forestall the need for" when you want to emphasize that proactive measures are being taken to prevent a future undesirable situation or requirement. This phrase is more formal and impactful than simply saying "avoid".

Common error

While "forestall the need for" is grammatically sound, it can sound overly formal or pretentious in everyday conversation. In informal settings, consider simpler alternatives like "avoid the need for" or "prevent needing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "forestall the need for" functions as a purpose connector, indicating that an action is taken to prevent a future requirement or necessity. Ludwig shows that it's used to describe proactive measures.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "forestall the need for" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, though more suited for formal and scientific contexts. It functions as a purpose connector, emphasizing actions taken to prevent a future requirement, according to Ludwig. While phrases like "prevent the necessity of" and "avert the requirement for" offer suitable alternatives, be mindful of the phrase's formality in casual settings. Ludwig AI also confirms its correctness, but its infrequent usage suggests it's best reserved for specific contexts where a formal tone is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevent the necessity of

Replaces "forestall" with "prevent" and restructures the phrase slightly using "necessity of".

avert the requirement for

Substitutes "forestall" with "avert" and uses "requirement" instead of "need".

obviate the necessity for

Replaces "forestall" with "obviate", indicating the removal of the need.

preclude the requirement of

Uses "preclude" to convey the idea of making the requirement unnecessary.

eliminate the demand for

Focuses on removing the demand or requirement.

avoid the necessity of

Highlights the act of avoiding a situation where something is needed.

preempt the requirement for

Emphasizes taking action before the requirement arises.

negate the demand for

Implies canceling out or nullifying the need.

preclude any need for

Specifies that the action prevents any possibility of a need arising.

remove the obligation for

Indicates a removal of a formal or imposed requirement.

FAQs

How can I use "forestall the need for" in a sentence?

You can use "forestall the need for" to describe actions taken to prevent a future requirement. For example, "Implementing preventative maintenance can "forestall the need for" costly repairs later on."

What's a simpler way to say "forestall the need for"?

Alternatives to "forestall the need for" include phrases like "avoid the need for", "prevent the necessity of", or "eliminate the demand for" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "forestall the need to" grammatically correct?

While "forestall the need for" is more common, "forestall the need to" can also be grammatically correct depending on the sentence structure. However, ensure the sentence flows naturally and makes sense with the inclusion of "to" rather than "for".

What is the difference between "forestall the need for" and "meet the need for"?

"Forestall the need for" means to prevent a need from arising, while "meet the need for" implies fulfilling an existing requirement. They are opposite in meaning; one prevents a future need, and the other addresses a current need.