knowledge are needed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "knowledge are needed" is not correct in written English.
It should be "knowledge is needed" since "knowledge" is an uncountable noun. Example: "In this field, knowledge is needed to make informed decisions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

New approach and new specific knowledge are needed to develop such a system.

Computers & Education

What new skills and new knowledge are needed by reporters and editors assigned to cover the "cyber-beat"?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

As his adroit performance revealed, skill and knowledge are needed in the flea circus business, but "training", he said, is not so important.

Independent

Now we are beginning to recognise that other types of knowledge are needed alongside this information – knowledge from the humanities, from spirituality and ethics.

Yale University

What kinds of teaching, courses, spaces and knowledge are needed?

Duke University

To conclude, improving farmers' asset accumulation, access to information and knowledge are needed.

Environmental Systems Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

what new knowledge is needed?

Harvard University

Some basic computer programming knowledge is needed to do this.

Harvard University

More knowledge is needed about supporting children during these procedures.

Journal of Pediatric Nursing

We had to satisfy ourselves that no specialist tools or knowledge were needed.

The Guardian

A large body of complementary knowledge was needed to implement these technologies.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure subject-verb agreement. Since "knowledge" is an uncountable noun, use the singular form "is" instead of "are".

Common error

Avoid using plural verb forms with uncountable nouns like "knowledge". Always use the singular form, as in "knowledge is needed", not "knowledge are needed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "knowledge are needed" functions as a statement indicating a requirement. Although grammatically incorrect, Ludwig shows that it's used in various contexts, implying a perceived need for information, skills, or understanding.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

26%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While frequently used, the phrase "knowledge are needed" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "knowledge is needed". This is because "knowledge" is an uncountable noun and requires a singular verb. Despite the grammatical error, Ludwig's examples show it appears across diverse sources, including science, news, and academia. When writing, ensure subject-verb agreement and consider using alternative phrases like "expertise is needed" or "understanding is needed" to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity. Though present across various domains, stick to "knowledge is needed" to ensure correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

knowledge is required

Changes the verb conjugation to match the singular noun "knowledge", making the phrase grammatically correct.

knowledge is necessary

Replaces "needed" with a synonym, maintaining the intended meaning while correcting the grammar.

skills and knowledge are required

Emphasizes the combination of skills and knowledge, requiring a plural verb conjugation.

expertise is needed

Substitutes "knowledge" with "expertise", a similar term that also takes a singular verb.

a knowledge base is needed

Shifts the focus to the structure or system of knowledge, which requires a singular verb.

there is a need for knowledge

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the existence of a requirement for knowledge.

understanding is needed

Replaces "knowledge" with "understanding", indicating a need for comprehension.

insight is necessary

Uses "insight" instead of "knowledge", suggesting a need for deeper perception.

information is needed

Focuses on the requirement for "information", which can be a component of knowledge.

more research is needed

Implies the need for further investigation to gain more knowledge.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "knowledge are needed"?

The correct way to phrase it is "knowledge is needed" because "knowledge" is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb.

What can I say instead of "knowledge are needed"?

You can use alternatives like "expertise is needed", "understanding is needed", or "information is needed", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "knowledge are needed" or "knowledge is needed"?

"Knowledge is needed" is the grammatically correct option. The phrase "knowledge are needed" is incorrect because "knowledge" is a singular, uncountable noun.

How does the context influence the choice between "knowledge is needed" and other alternatives?

The context dictates which synonym best fits. For instance, if you're referring to a specific skill, "expertise is needed" might be more appropriate. If you're emphasizing comprehension, "understanding is needed" would be a better choice.