good needs

USAGE SUMMARY

In written English, 'good needs' is not a correct or usable phrase. Instead, you would use the phrase "good needs to" or "needs to be good" in order to communicate the same idea. For example, "This essay needs to be good if I want to get an A".

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

The idea of the common good needs to take deeper roots in our selfish society.

The Guardian

HCI/CSCW research for social good needs to tell stories of hope and point to and motivate efficacious labor.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A menu writer tried to help it along by calling it "warm chocolate upside-down cake," but really, food this good needs no exaggeration.

The New York Times - Travel

The issue is: we want the intelligences with (morally) good ideas always to defeat the evil intelligences, biological and artificial; but we are fallible, and our own conception of "good" needs continual improvement.

The Guardian

But Mr. Bush's aides conceded that some unexpected obstacles had emerged to separate them from the grand bargain that they had envisioned here, including a Russian insistence that Mr. Bush's word to cut nuclear arms, however good, needs to be backed up by treaties.

The New York Times

Patricia Wells Bistro Cookingg (one of a five-book haul from Oxfam) belonged to Siobhan in 1993: there are Post-its marking bagna cauda, tartelettes aux pommes and mon gateau au chocolat which, according to the margin notes, is "v good", "needs 35 mins" and to "see Gary Rhodes page 233".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

But good need not always flow from virtue.

The Guardian - Opinion

Doing good needn't contradict doing well.

TechCrunch

"Freight logistics for transporting goods needs to be greener".

Huffington Post

Some social goods need universal roots.

The New Yorker

To be sustainable, public goods need to last and remain available.

Biology Direct

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, rephrase sentences using "good" with verbs like "requires", "demands", or "necessitates" to ensure grammatical accuracy and enhance understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "good needs" directly without a connecting word or rephrasing. Instead of saying "Good needs action", clarify it as "Good requires action" or "Action is needed for good" to improve grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "good needs" functions as a subject followed by a verb, although the grammatical relationship is often incorrect. The phrase typically suggests that the concept of "good" requires something else to be fulfilled or realized. Ludwig AI indicates this usage often necessitates rephrasing for accuracy.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "good needs" appears in various contexts, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect and requires careful rephrasing for clarity. Ludwig AI highlights that alternatives such as "good requires", "good demands", or "essential for good" are more accurate and effective in conveying the intended meaning. The phrase's varied usage across news, science, and informal sources suggests it's best to opt for more precise language in formal writing. Understanding this distinction allows for clearer, more impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

good requires

Replaces "needs" with "requires", emphasizing a stronger sense of necessity for something to be considered good.

good necessitates

Similar to "requires", but suggests an unavoidable condition for achieving goodness.

good demands

Indicates that goodness imposes certain conditions or actions.

good entails

Highlights what is necessarily involved or included to achieve a state of goodness.

essential for good

Focuses on the elements that are indispensable for achieving a positive outcome.

a prerequisite for good

Positions the requirement as something that must come before goodness can be achieved.

what good demands

Emphasizes the demands that the state of being good places on a situation.

good is contingent on

Highlights that goodness depends on certain conditions being met.

good relies on

Suggests that the quality of being good is dependent on specific elements or factors.

good depends on

Similar to "relies on", indicating that the presence of good is conditional on certain factors.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the concept of something needing to be good in a sentence?

Instead of "good needs", try rephrasing to "good requires" or "what is essential for good" depending on the context. These alternatives provide better grammatical structure.

What are some alternatives to "good needs" that maintain a similar meaning?

Consider using phrases like "good demands", "good necessitates", or "good entails". These options offer similar connotations while ensuring grammatical correctness.

Is "good needs" grammatically correct in English?

The phrase "good needs" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to rephrase it to something like "good requires" or "essential for good" to convey the intended meaning accurately.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "good needs"?

While not grammatically ideal, "good needs" might appear in informal writing or speech. However, for clarity and correctness, it's advisable to use alternatives such as "good demands" or a construction where "good" is the subject.