left needed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "left needed" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a requirement or necessity related to something that remains or is remaining, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "The supplies left needed to be organized before the event."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Alex Blake made 53 not out in Kent's 149-9 before Sussex, who were 103-7 withreeree overs left, needed 17 from the final six balls of the game.

BBC

New Labour's leaders were right in arguing that the left needed to have a more coherent policy for wealth creation.

The Guardian - Business

To win Chile's presidential election at the first time of asking, Michelle Bachelet (pictured left) needed to take more votes than the other eight candidates combined.

The Economist

The late JK Galbraith once noted that the left needed to be smarter about management than the right, since it insisted on taking under its control industries which the private sector had given up as basket cases.

The Guardian - Business

Stein was convinced that the left needed to focus on the long term, on building its own network of well-financed nonprofit groups, rather than simply strategizing for the next election.

The New York Times - Magazine

By the time a group of liberal billionaires tapped John Podesta, Bill Clinton's former White House chief of staff, to establish the Center for American Progress in 2003, the reasoning was that the left needed an answer to the conservative think tanks they credited with having tilted the nation measurably to the right.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Whichever team does not sign him will again be left needing a quarterback.

The New York Times - Sports

Huiswaard was left needing stitches in his head and three weeks off work.

The Guardian - Opinion

Should City concede tonight they will be left needing four goals to proceed to the quarter-finals.

Independent

Graham Carter, 34, suffered facial burns in the blast and was left needing surgery to remove blast debris from his eyes.

The Guardian

By the time their fourth wicket fell in the 43rd over, India were left needing 61 from 43 balls.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reframe "left needed" using more precise and grammatically sound alternatives such as "what remains is required" or "remaining required" to enhance clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid placing "left" directly before "needed" without a clear grammatical connection. This can lead to misinterpretation and weaken the overall impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left needed" primarily functions as a descriptor indicating a requirement related to something remaining. However, its grammatical structure is questionable, as noted by Ludwig, and it often requires rephrasing for clarity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

15%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "left needed" appears in various contexts, it is often grammatically questionable and lacks clarity. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase "is not correct". It serves to express a requirement related to something remaining, but its informal nature and potential for misinterpretation necessitate the use of clearer, more grammatically sound alternatives such as "what remains is required" or "the remaining items are necessary". Authoritative sources like BBC, The Guardian and The New York Times occasionally use the phrase, but its overall uncommon frequency suggests avoiding it in formal or professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remaining required

Emphasizes the active requirement of what is left.

what remains is necessary

Clarifies that the necessity applies to the remaining portion.

the rest is required

Highlights that the necessity concerns the remainder.

what's outstanding is necessary

Indicates necessity pertaining to what has not yet been addressed.

the remainder is necessary

Specifies that the remaining part is what's essential.

balance required

Refers to the required quantity when the original is not complete.

the residue is required

Formal rephrasing of the substance needed from the 'left'.

the shortage is...

Refers to 'needed' being the lack of sufficient amount that was 'left'.

the demand is...

Refers to 'needed' as the request from the 'left'.

what's not enough is...

Informal version of the insufficient amount of the 'left'.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "left needed" to improve clarity?

Consider using phrases like "what remains is necessary" or "the remaining items are required" for better clarity. These alternatives provide a clearer grammatical structure.

What are some alternatives to "left needed" in a formal context?

In formal writing, opt for phrases such as "the remaining balance is necessary" or "what is outstanding is required". These options convey a higher level of professionalism.

Is "left needed" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "left needed" "is not correct" and lacks clarity. It's advisable to use more precise and grammatically sound alternatives.

How does the context influence the best alternative for "left needed"?

The context determines the most appropriate alternative. For instance, in project management, you might say "the remaining tasks are required", while in finance, "the outstanding balance is necessary" might be more suitable.