in greater need of

USAGE SUMMARY

'in greater need of' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that requires more assistance than another thing. For example: "The rural communities in the middle of the country are in greater need of aid and support than those in the more affluent coastal areas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This suggests that women are in greater need of support".

The New York Times

Although the suffering people need food, he said, many are in greater need of medicine, clean water and vaccinations.

The New York Times

There is no corner of the executive branch in greater need of a new direction than the Office of Legal Counsel.

The New York Times

Mrs. Clinton also said: "We are in greater need of the kind of research that is done there than we have been at any time.

The New York Times

The tragedy of this story is that we have never been in greater need of the benefits that mutual responsibility bring.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it was the 49ers in greater need of victory because of the comparative strength of the NFC West and the catastrophic NFC South.

The Guardian - Sport

Yet, with charity leaders facing unprecedented challenges, they are arguably in greater need of more professional development than their counterparts in industry.

The Guardian

Royal tribute This column is not always generous to royalty, taking the rather chippy view that there might be others in greater need of charity.

The Guardian - Opinion

"But whether such models can scale to cover a large swath of the population that is in greater need of health care is unclear".

The New York Times - Health

"If you see someone who's in greater need of a seat – there are a number of reasons why that might be the case – that's very understandable and a decent thing to do," the spokesman said.

The Guardian

I watched it Friday night and I have rarely in my illustrious career, with my full knowledge of constitutional law, listened to somebody in greater need of a First Amendment defense lawyer.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in greater need of" to emphasize a disparity in requirements or support levels, highlighting urgency or imbalance.

Common error

Avoid overusing "in greater need of" when a simpler "needs" would suffice. Overstating the urgency can diminish the phrase's impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in greater need of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating a comparative degree of necessity or requirement. As Ludwig AI highlights, it signifies that something requires more assistance than something else.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in greater need of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to express a comparative level of necessity. As Ludwig AI indicates, it correctly points out something requires more assistance than something else. It is most commonly found in science and news media, reflecting its utility in academic discussions and current events reporting. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, overuse should be avoided for maximum impact. Alternatives like "urgently requires" or "is in greater demand for" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. By understanding its function, purpose, register, and common errors, writers can effectively use "in greater need of" to convey precise levels of necessity in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is in greater demand for

Highlights the demand aspect with a slight shift in phrasing.

more so requires

Focuses on the increased requirement, using a more concise verb phrase.

urgently requires

Stresses the urgency of the need, implying a time-sensitive requirement.

has a higher demand for

Emphasizes the demand aspect, making it suitable when discussing resources or services.

is critically reliant on

Similar to 'is more dependent on' but conveys a higher level of urgency.

is facing a higher necessity for

Formal phrasing emphasizing the unavoidable nature of the need.

is more dependent on

Shifts the focus to reliance, suggesting a stronger level of dependency.

is increasingly reliant upon

Highlights a gradual but significant increase in dependency.

is under greater pressure for

Indicates external forces driving the need, suitable when discussing performance or results.

bears a greater responsibility for

Shifts the emphasis to an obligation or duty rather than a general need.

FAQs

How can I use "in greater need of" in a sentence?

Use "in greater need of" to indicate that someone or something requires more assistance or resources compared to others. For example, "Developing countries are "in greater need of" financial aid than developed countries".

What are some alternatives to "in greater need of"?

Alternatives include "more so requires", "urgently requires", or "is in greater demand for" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "in greater need of" or "in great need of"?

"In greater need of" is used to compare the level of need between two or more subjects, while "in great need of" simply indicates a high level of necessity without comparison. The better choice depends on whether you're making a comparison or not.

What's the difference between "in need of" and "in greater need of"?

"In need of" implies a basic requirement, while "in greater need of" suggests a more urgent or substantial requirement compared to something else. "Those affected by the earthquake are "in greater need of" shelter than food" implies shelter is a more pressing concern.