lay the groundwork needed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lay the groundwork needed" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing preparations or foundational work required for a project or initiative. Example: "The team worked hard to lay the groundwork needed for the upcoming launch." Alternative expressions include "establish the foundation required" and "set the stage necessary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The filing deadline for Chicago's mayoral race is Nov. 24, giving leeway for additional candidates to submit petitions but little time to lay the groundwork needed for such a major campaign, Simpson said.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But these days, you can bring strong finance talent aboard – a controller, perhaps, vice president or even director of finance – to lay the important groundwork needed to establish a high-performance environment.

TechCrunch

(They're also not anxious to pay CFO salaries, which averaged over $200,000 in 2013). But these days, you can bring strong finance talent aboard – a controller, perhaps, vice president or even director of finance – to lay the important groundwork needed to establish a high-performance environment.

TechCrunch

Our study aims to add to the evidence on HRH attrition in sub-Saharan Africa, to provide evidence for HRH planning in Kenya and to lay the groundwork for further research needed to support HRH policy decisions in Kenya and beyond.

Human Resources for Health

Leftists say the government has purposely starved Pemex to lay the groundwork for insisting that it needs help from private companies.

The New York Times

Ade Daramy Invest outside the capital: To lay the groundwork for economic diversification, we need to capitalise on opportunities provided by large private and public investments in the interior of the country.

The Guardian

Young people's thirst for stronger governance may not alone trigger a revolution but it may lay the groundwork for older radicals who need their support.

Forbes

We should, however, consider the possibility that these moves, along with a State Council announcement on June 19 of a package of financial reform proposals, are part of a larger plan to lay the groundwork for the painful and desperately needed reform proposals reportedly up for approval at the Third Plenum of the 18th Party Congress that is expected to meet in October.

The New York Times

Still, China has not adopted many of the reforms that economists suggest are needed to lay the groundwork for a new phase of development that relies less on exports to other countries and depends more on the spending of the Chinese themselves.

The New York Times

The extra money also would bankroll some R&D for vaccine work on chikungunya and dengue, which are spread by the same mosquitoes as Zika, and epidemiological studies needed to lay the groundwork for field trials.

Science Magazine

Quickly building our capacity to generate clean electricity will lay the groundwork for the next major step needed: placing a price on carbon.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lay the groundwork needed", ensure the context clearly defines what the 'groundwork' is for. Be specific about the desired outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "lay the groundwork needed" for trivial tasks. The phrase implies a significant level of preparation for a substantial endeavor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lay the groundwork needed" functions as a verbal phrase. It describes the action of preparing a foundation or making necessary arrangements for a future event or project. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lay the groundwork needed" is a grammatically correct verbal phrase that emphasizes the importance of preparation. Although Ludwig AI found it to be of rare occurence in the analyzed text data, it is deemed suitable for neutral to professional contexts, frequently appearing in News & Media and Science. To enhance clarity, it's important to specify the intended outcome of the groundwork. Related phrases include "establish the necessary foundation" and "prepare the required foundation".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

establish the necessary foundation

Emphasizes the creation of a base, focusing on necessity rather than the preparatory nature.

prepare the required foundation

Highlights the action of preparing, specifically focusing on the foundation.

set the stage as required

Uses a theatrical metaphor, suggesting arrangement for a particular event or outcome.

build the essential base

Focuses on construction and essential elements, minimizing the preparatory aspect.

pave the way that's necessary

Implies smoothing a path, emphasizing facilitation over building a foundation.

form the required basis

Highlights the creation of a starting point that is required for subsequent actions.

develop the indispensable basis

Emphasizes the development of an essential starting point.

forge the essential foundation

Implies a more active and effortful creation of the base.

construct the basis for success

Highlights the creation of the starting point that will lead to a successful end.

create the conditions needed

Shifts the focus to creating an environment or situation rather than a physical foundation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "lay the groundwork needed"?

Alternatives include "establish the necessary foundation", "prepare the required foundation", or "set the stage as required", each emphasizing different aspects of preparation.

What does it mean to "lay the groundwork needed"?

It means to make the necessary preparations or create the essential conditions for something to happen or succeed. It involves taking initial steps to ensure future success.

Is "lay the groundwork needed" formal or informal?

The phrase "lay the groundwork needed" is generally suitable for neutral to professional contexts. It is not overly formal, but it is appropriate for business, news, and academic writing.

How do I use "lay the groundwork needed" in a sentence?

For example: "The team worked hard to "lay the groundwork needed" for the upcoming launch." Be sure to specify what the groundwork is preparing for.