in serious need of

USAGE SUMMARY

"in serious need of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to express that something is in desperate need of assistance or some other form of help. For example, "The community center is in serious need of volunteers to help with the upcoming event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Flags" is in serious need of both.

The New York Times

He looked in serious need of a cuddle.

The Guardian - Sport

This is a man in serious need of some interns.

The Guardian

Because Westeros is in serious need of more bards, obviously.

Independent

The downtown store is in serious need of a face-lift.

The New York Times - Food

Of course some people in our street were in serious need of recycling education.

The Guardian

Lyrics and Lyricists is in serious need of more such levity.

The New York Times - Arts

But this maximalist ideology may be completely wrong, or at least in serious need of revision.

The New York Times

The state-owned facilities "are in serious need of upgrade," she said.

The New York Times - Tech

Now DreamWorks heads into television's development season in serious need of a new breakthrough hit.

The New York Times

It appears to me that Long Island is in serious need of some regional planning.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in serious need of", ensure that the context clearly indicates what specific assistance or resource is lacking. This provides clarity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "in serious need of" when the situation is merely inconvenient rather than critical. Overusing the phrase can dilute its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in serious need of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating a state where something requires immediate or significant assistance. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is appropriate for expressing urgent needs.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in serious need of" is a versatile phrase used to express that something urgently requires attention or resources. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable. The phrase appears frequently in news and media, as well as scientific contexts, indicating its suitability for both formal and informal communication. While alternatives like "urgently requires" and ""desperately needs"" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance and level of urgency you want to convey. Use this phrase when you want to emphasize the importance of addressing a particular deficiency or problem promptly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desperately needs

Emphasizes a feeling of desperation behind the need, indicating a dire situation.

urgently requires

Highlights the urgency of the requirement, suitable when time is a critical factor.

badly needs

Focuses directly on the action of needing something, emphasizing the intensity through "badly".

is critically short of

Emphasizes the shortage aspect, often used for resources or supplies.

is crying out for

Uses a metaphorical expression to illustrate a strong and obvious need.

is in dire straits

Shifts the focus to the difficult situation requiring help.

is lacking significantly in

Highlights the deficiency rather than the need, focusing on what's missing.

is facing a critical shortfall of

Points to a deficiency that has reached a critical level, posing potential problems.

is greatly wanting in

Uses a more formal tone to express a significant lack or deficiency.

is substantially deficient in

Highlights a considerable deficiency, suitable for more technical or formal contexts.

FAQs

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

You can use "in serious need of" to describe something that urgently requires assistance or resources. For example, "The old bridge is "badly needs" repairs" or "The animal shelter is "desperately needs" volunteers".

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

Alternatives include phrases like "urgently requires", ""desperately needs"", or "is crying out for", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "in serious need of" or "in dire need of"?

Both phrases are similar, but "in dire need of" often implies a more critical or desperate situation than "in serious need of". The choice depends on the level of urgency you wish to express.

What's the difference between "in serious need of" and "is lacking significantly in"?

"In serious need of" emphasizes the requirement for something, while "is lacking significantly in" highlights the deficiency. The former focuses on the solution, while the latter focuses on the problem.