in severe need of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in severe need of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong requirement or necessity for something, often in a serious context. Example: "The community is in severe need of clean drinking water after the recent natural disaster."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

There are pertinent issues in severe need of addressing, which the above statistics highlight.

The Guardian - Opinion

By now, most of the city's projects are at least fifty years old and in severe need of repair.

The New Yorker

Charm has disappeared from the repertoire, and his seduction technique looks in severe need of a rethink.

Independent

Today, the home and seaside trips are long gone, but the mission, recently refurbished, is as shockingly busy as ever, with 10,000 people a year referred by teachers, health practitioners, housing officers and social workers as being in severe need of help.

The Guardian

In addition to cardiometabolic diseases, such as diabetes, he points to the multitude of mental health disorders, like depression, anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, and the crisis of substance abuse, which negatively impact millions of lives, as areas that are in severe need of better solutions.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Shyamalan seems to have a monopoly on this process just now; he often tries too hard, but nobody else can conjure such a sudden flood of worry, or summon so unmistakable a stink of evil, and you come out of "Signs," as you did from "The Sixth Sense," in severe need of loud music, bad jokes, and drinks with cherries and umbrellas in them — anything to waft away the fug of unease.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

If the EU made a decision in the European Parliament that this money should be used for the assistance of people in severe need – and it has got a food aid tag on it – then we hope they will talk to us".

The Guardian

This can result not only in unfair provision but in a distraction from the main purpose of helping those in severe need.

The Guardian - Opinion

In this instance, the severe needs of the homeless and the lack of services were serious considerations in favour of the project's implementation.

BMC Health Services Research

Of those 68percentt in most severe need, UNRWA aims to provide 80percentt of daily caloric needs (1,675 of an average 2,1000 calories), according to Abu Shawish.

Vice

Consequently, they would reach more distant pasture areas while the residential herds were restricted to their own village grazing territory and were only allowed to graze on neighbouring grounds in times of severe need (Projet SuLaMa 2011).

Pastoralism

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in severe need of", ensure the context clearly establishes the seriousness and urgency of the need. Avoid using it for trivial matters to maintain its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "in severe need of" when a simpler phrase like "needs" or "requires" would suffice. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in severe need of" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes the state of something or someone as requiring something urgently and critically. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in severe need of" is a phrase used to emphasize the critical requirement of something. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears across news, scientific, and formal contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the context warrants the intensity it conveys. The phrase can be substituted with alternatives such as "urgently requires" or "desperately requires" to add nuance. Remember that this expression's effectiveness lies in its judicious use in truly serious situations. Be mindful of overuse, as it can diminish the overall impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desperately requires

Emphasizes the urgency and desperation of the need.

urgently requires

Highlights the time-sensitive nature of the requirement.

critically requires

Stresses the critical importance of the need being fulfilled.

is facing a dire need for

Focuses on the negative situation creating the need.

is in desperate straits for

Suggests a difficult or impoverished situation that necessitates the need.

gravely requires

Emphasizes seriousness and potential danger if the need is unmet.

stands in pressing need of

Points out urgency and the importance of prompt attention.

is experiencing an acute shortage of

Focuses on scarcity and the impact of the shortage.

is hard-pressed for

Highlights the challenges and difficulties associated with the need.

is lacking critically in

Emphasizes the absence and the critical nature of what is missing.

FAQs

How to use "in severe need of" in a sentence?

Use "in severe need of" to emphasize a critical requirement or necessity. For example, "The hospital is "in severe need of" blood donations" indicates an urgent and pressing requirement.

What can I say instead of "in severe need of"?

You can use alternatives like "urgently requires", "desperately requires", or "critically requires" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "in severe need of"?

It's appropriate when describing situations where there is an urgent or critical lack of something, and the consequences of not addressing the need are significant. For example, a community "in severe need of" clean water after a natural disaster.

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

"In severe need of" emphasizes a higher level of urgency and criticality compared to "in great need of". "In great need of" implies a significant need, while ""in severe need of"" suggests a crisis or potentially life-threatening situation.