Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

lost needed

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lost needed" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a sense of something that is both lost and needed, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "After the storm, I realized that many of my lost needed supplies were gone."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Small businesses and communities have also suffered as local credit unions and community banks, unable to compete under new market equilibriums, have lost needed revenue, and some have failed.

News & Media

Huffington Post

With a dull story on the island and flashbacks weakly giving Hurley the requisite daddy issues so many of the other characters already had, it was clear Lost needed to make a big change soon to recapture what was special about the show.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Monroe, lost, needs a pal, and young Colin, abashed yet persistent, keeps showing up in her dressing room.

News & Media

The New Yorker

The Sha Sha seems to attract foreigners, slightly lost, needing a break and a check of the map, a situation familiar to any traveler.

There's no shame in admitting suffering, in feeling lost, needing help or being stuck.

News & Media

Huffington Post

(Participant 6) Lots of experiences getting lost, need to ask nurses or hope you bump into someone else on a crash call.

Science

BMJ Open

"We're losing needed people, and someday, these decisions are going to haunt us".

News & Media

The New York Times

In Lancaster County, it was reported that some 2,700 people may lose needed benefits.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Hence, in order to identify the words strongly collocated with sleep, the log-log score within five words of sleep was calculated, and lose, need, and want were selected.

"A life lost need not be a life lost to history," he said.

News & Media

The New York Times

However, reliable transport is still required in the case of a link failure and packets that were lost need to be retransmitted over another link.

Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "lost needed" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "essential items lost" or "necessary things missing".

Common error

Do not combine "lost" and "needed" directly without a connecting word or a clearer structure. This can lead to confusion and misinterpretation. For instance, avoid saying something like "the lost needed documents", and instead say "the needed documents are lost".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

2.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost needed" functions as a descriptor, attempting to modify a noun by indicating something is both missing and required. However, this construction is grammatically awkward and unclear, as Ludwig AI points out.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lost needed" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in formal writing. While some instances appear in news and media sources, as highlighted by Ludwig, it is best to opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "essential items lost" or "necessary things missing". Ludwig AI specifically identifies the phrase as incorrect. Utilizing such alternatives will improve clarity and avoid potential misinterpretations. Therefore, consider replacing "lost needed" with more appropriate phrases in your writing.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "lost needed" to be more grammatically correct?

Instead of "lost needed", consider using phrases like "essential items lost", "necessary things missing", or "required resources unavailable" depending on the context.

What does "lost needed" mean, and why is it considered incorrect?

The phrase "lost needed" attempts to combine the concepts of something being lost and necessary. However, the word order is awkward. It's better to use clearer expressions. For example, "the resources "essential for survival" were lost".

Is there a situation where "lost needed" would be appropriate?

While technically incorrect, "lost needed" might appear in informal speech or creative writing. However, it's generally best to avoid this phrasing in formal contexts. You can try to replace it with "needed items lost" or something similar to better convey the correct sense.

What are some common synonyms for "needed" that could replace it in a rephrased version of "lost needed"?

Synonyms for "needed" include "essential", "necessary", "required", and "vital". Therefore, you could say "lost essential supplies" or "lost necessary tools" instead of "lost needed".

ChatGPT power + Grammarly precisionChatGPT power + Grammarly precision
ChatGPT + Grammarly

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

2.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: