funny as it needs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "funny as it needs" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks clarity in meaning. Example: "The joke was funny as it needs to be for the audience to enjoy it."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Not as funny as it needs to be (1 30).

The New York Times

It's impossible entirely to dislike a movie which has Ronnie Corbett in it, but John Landis's new film – a broad comedy about 19th-century Edinburgh's grave-robbing murderers Burke and Hare – just isn't as funny as it needs to be, properly using neither the comic flair of Simon Pegg, nor the dramatic power of Andy Serkis.

The Guardian

That the film is nothing like as funny as it needs to be would be less problematic were it filled with acutely observed insights into ageing and marriage, yet I struggled to recognise or connect with the conflicts or the conversations of anyone (male, female, old, young) on screen.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's not enough for your game just to be funny, of course, as it needs the substance and gameplay to back it up.

Vice

It's neither as funny nor as fierce as it needs to be.

The New York Times

It's very funny when it needs to be.

The Guardian - Film

It was funny, but it needed a big new laugh.

The New York Times

For a political insult to take wing it needs to be funny or at least interesting.

Independent

This is not as funny as it may sound.

The New York Times

As smart and funny as it is deeply compassionate (1 45).

The New York Times

As funny as it was heartbreaking.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the grammatically questionable phrase "funny as it needs", consider more conventional alternatives like "as funny as it should be" or "sufficiently funny" to ensure clarity and correctness.

Common error

Avoid structuring comparative statements with incorrect conjunctions. "Funny as it needs" awkwardly combines comparison with requirement. Opt for clear comparative structures such as "as funny as necessary" or use adverbs like 'sufficiently' to modify 'funny'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "funny as it needs" attempts to function as an adjectival phrase modifying an implied subject. However, its structure is grammatically unconventional. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "funny as it needs" is grammatically incorrect and uncommon in standard written English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While it aims to express the idea that something should be sufficiently funny, it's better to use more conventional phrases like "as funny as it should be" or "sufficiently funny". Its usage is mostly limited to informal contexts, particularly in news, media and wiki sources. For clear and correct communication, it's recommended to avoid this phrase and opt for grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as humorous as necessary

Replaces 'funny' with 'humorous' and 'needs' with 'necessary', emphasizing requirement rather than inherent quality.

as funny as required

Substitutes 'needs' with 'required', making the expression more formal.

sufficiently funny

Uses an adverb to directly modify 'funny', indicating an adequate level of humor.

humorous enough

Similar to 'sufficiently funny' but uses 'enough' for a more casual tone.

adequately humorous

Replaces 'funny' with 'humorous' and uses 'adequately' to convey a satisfactory level.

appropriately funny

Highlights the suitability of the humor to the situation.

sufficiently comedic

Replaces 'funny' with 'comedic' and modifies it with 'sufficiently'.

as comedic as it should be

More explicitly states the expectation of humor, using 'should be' instead of 'needs'.

humorous to the right degree

Expresses the need for humor in terms of degree or intensity.

jolly enough

Uses "jolly" to indicate happiness and humor and combines it with "enough".

FAQs

How can I rephrase "funny as it needs" to be grammatically correct?

You can use alternatives such as "as funny as it should be", "sufficiently funny", or "as humorous as necessary" depending on the context.

Is "funny as it needs" grammatically correct?

No, "funny as it needs" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "as funny as it should be" or "sufficiently funny".

What does "funny as it needs" attempt to convey?

The phrase attempts to express that something should be as funny as is required or necessary for a particular situation or purpose. However, it's more effectively conveyed using phrases like "as funny as required" or "appropriately funny".

What are some situations where I might want to say something is "funny as it needs"?

You might want to use this phrase when evaluating the comedic effectiveness of a joke, performance, or situation. Instead use "humorous enough" or "sufficiently comedic" to imply that it meets the required level of humor.