it needs to work

USAGE SUMMARY

"it needs to work" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to express that something must be functional or operational. Example: "I bought a new blender, but it needs to work properly before I can use it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

It needs to work with its member nations to get a more accurate scientific picture of how krill are doing.

The New York Times

"Cisco is nascent in its work in wireless and it needs to work with the combined" company, says Listwin.

Forbes

The kingdom knows it needs to work on its image, Saudi-linked sources told HuffPost.

Huffington Post

However, it needs to work both ways.

The Guardian - Opinion

You really want it to work — it needs to work".

The New Yorker

It needs to work with our Vbox wrapper.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

"It needed to work no matter what".

The New York Times

He knew his temperament and how it needed to work.

The Guardian - Sport

I found the service to be potentially helpful but with some snags it needed to work out first.

The New York Times

The report, carried out by two practising school inspectors, judged the school to be "good" and highlighted areas it needed to work on to become outstanding.

Independent

He said that, even if his group decided to publicly oppose the agency, it needed to work with Warren to shape the legislation.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it needs to work", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to. Clarity prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it needs to work" without specifying what 'it' refers to. Always provide context to ensure the statement is clear and meaningful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it needs to work" functions as a statement of requirement or necessity. It expresses that something must be functional or effective. As seen in Ludwig, from numerous examples, the phrase serves to emphasize the importance of operational success.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it needs to work" is a versatile and frequently used phrase expressing the necessity of something being functional or effective. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely understood. Its usage spans various contexts, from News & Media to Science and Formal & Business communication, indicating its broad applicability. When using this phrase, ensure the context provides clarity on what "it" refers to, and consider alternative phrasings like "it has to function" or "it must be effective" to add nuance or emphasis as needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has to function

Changes "needs to" to "has to", emphasizing obligation, and replaces "work" with "function", a synonym focusing on operational ability.

it has to be operational

Similar to "it has to function" but using the adjective "operational" to describe its state.

it must be effective

Replaces "needs to work" with "must be effective", highlighting the requirement for successful results.

it's necessary for it to be functional

Replaces "needs to work" with "necessary for it to be functional", focusing on the necessity of being in a working state.

it is required to operate

Formal alternative, changing "needs to work" to "is required to operate", focusing on the necessity for operation.

it's vital for it to perform

Highlights the importance of its performance, replacing "work" with "perform".

it is essential that it functions

Uses a more emphatic structure, highlighting the essential nature of its functionality.

it should be in working order

Focuses on the state of being functional, using "working order" instead of the verb "work".

it is imperative that it runs

Emphasizes the urgency and necessity of it running smoothly.

it is crucial that it succeeds

Shifts the focus to successful outcomes rather than mere operation.

FAQs

How can I use "it needs to work" in a sentence?

You can use "it needs to work" to emphasize the necessity of something being functional or successful. For example, "The new software is promising, but "it needs to work" flawlessly to be adopted by our team."

What are some alternatives to saying "it needs to work"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it has to function", "it must be effective", or "it is required to operate" depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is it better to say "it needs to work" or "it has to work"?

Both "it needs to work" and "it has to work" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "It has to work" might convey a slightly stronger sense of obligation or necessity, while "it needs to work" is often perceived as more polite or suggestive. The choice depends on the specific tone you want to convey.

What does "it needs to work" imply in a business context?

In a business context, "it needs to work" often implies that a system, process, or strategy must be functional and effective to achieve desired outcomes. It underscores the importance of reliability and success. For example, "The marketing campaign is expensive, so "it needs to work" to justify the investment."