in grave need

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in grave need" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the need of something of high importance or urgency. For example: "The small village is in grave need of new medical supplies to treat the increasing number of sick people in the area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"I have tasked officials to urgently establish what more we can do to provide help to those affected, including those in grave need of food, water and shelter in the Sinjar area," he said.

Independent

He denies any wrongdoing, and ever since, the political debate of Italy – a country in grave need of concerted action to lift it out of its longest postwar recession – has been dominated by the saga.

The Guardian

The Church is therefore in grave need of a better dictionary to replace the shoddy one it is currently employing, in which many of its definitions are either out of date or simply wrong.

Independent

"Chinese politics is in grave need for democracy and openness," he wrote on Weibo.

BBC

But I think it's our policy that's in grave need of rehabilitation.

Huffington Post

By donating her pulmonary arties, she saved the life of a child in grave need of a transplant.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

If you are in graver need of losing weight or lowering your calories, your doctor may put you on special diet involving even fewer calories, but you should not put yourself on such a diet without approval from your doctor.

WikiHow

They will be you most ardent supports in the time of grave need.

WikiHow

There is a grave need for a campaign against violence: a unified movement of people who want to create real change in Chester.

The New Yorker

In 1882, at the graveside of a friend's child, he declared: "They who stand with breaking hearts around this little grave, need have no fear.

The New York Times

That said, LGBT Ugandans are in grave danger, and need as much help from the international community as possible.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider pairing "in grave need" with specific actions or resources that are required to alleviate the situation. For example, "The refugees are in grave need of food and shelter."

Common error

Avoid using "in grave need" for minor inconveniences or situations that do not genuinely represent a critical or urgent requirement. This dilutes the phrase's impact and can make your writing sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in grave need" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating a state of critical necessity. Ludwig examples show it describing people or entities facing urgent and dire circumstances. The Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in grave need" effectively conveys a critical and urgent requirement. Grammatically sound, it functions as a prepositional phrase, often used in news, business, and formal contexts to underscore the seriousness of a situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and best employed when emphasizing the urgency of addressing a dire necessity. While similar to phrases like "in desperate need", "in dire straits", and "urgently requires", it is important to reserve its use for truly serious situations to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in desperate need

Conveys a sense of urgency and lack of alternatives, stressing the intensity of the need.

badly needs

A more informal way to express a strong need or requirement.

in dire straits

Emphasizes a severely difficult or dangerous situation, implying a strong need for help.

is facing an emergency

Conveys a sense of immediate and severe danger requiring urgent action.

in critical condition

Highlights a precarious state, typically related to health or well-being, suggesting immediate need for intervention.

acutely requires

Emphasizes the sharpness and intensity of the need.

urgently requires

Focuses on the immediate necessity of something, framing it as a pressing demand.

faces a critical shortage

Highlights the deficiency of essential resources.

sorely lacking

Indicates a significant deficiency, underscoring the need to address a crucial gap.

is on the brink

Suggests a situation is nearing a crisis point, hence the need is very real and pressing.

FAQs

How can I use "in grave need" in a sentence?

You can use "in grave need" to describe a situation where there is a critical or urgent requirement. For example, "The hospital is "in grave need" of blood donations".

What phrases are similar to "in grave need"?

Similar phrases include "in desperate need", "in dire straits", and "urgently requires", each carrying a slightly different nuance.

When is it appropriate to use "in grave need"?

It's appropriate to use "in grave need" when describing situations that are extremely serious and require immediate attention or resources. Avoid using it for trivial matters.

Is "in grave need of" grammatically correct?

Yes, "in grave need of" is grammatically correct. You can follow it with a noun or noun phrase specifying what is critically required. For example, "The community is "in grave need of" clean water".