must be cleaned

USAGE SUMMARY

'must be cleaned' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to express that something should be cleaned. For example, "The kitchen floor must be cleaned before we begin cooking dinner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Regular ovens without these cleaning features must be cleaned regularly by hand.

WikiHow

All food process plant must be cleaned to ensure hygienic operation, but cleaning is not well understood.

Chemical Engineering Science

This must be cleaned up".

The Economist

Spills must be cleaned, and communities must be compensated.

The Guardian

And they must be cleaned, one by one.

The New York Times - Food

"The fallacies they created must be cleaned up".

The Guardian

The concrete and plaster surfaces must be cleaned and repainted.

The New York Times

Any spills or accidents must be cleaned up immedately.

Columbia University

When clogged by particles removed from the water, the filter bed must be cleaned by backwashing.

Britannica

Before the cathedral is reopened, the mess must be cleaned up first.

The New York Times

On Windows 95 machines, the folders must be cleaned out manually.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "must be cleaned", clearly specify what needs cleaning to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "It must be cleaned", say "The equipment must be cleaned after each use."

Common error

Avoid excessive passive voice. Instead of "The room must be cleaned", consider using the active voice: "You must clean the room" for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be cleaned" functions as a modal passive construction, indicating a requirement or obligation for something to undergo the action of cleaning. Ludwig AI data shows its frequent use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

28%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Encyclopedias

8%

Academia

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "must be cleaned" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate a requirement or obligation for something to be cleaned. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is versatile and appears frequently in various contexts, including news, science, and instructional content. While "must be cleaned" is generally neutral in tone, it's crucial to be specific about what requires cleaning to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "needs to be cleaned" or "should be cleaned" can be used to adjust the level of obligation or necessity. This passive construction indicates a duty of care for an object.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

needs to be cleaned

Replaces "must" with "needs", softening the obligation but retaining the requirement for cleaning.

has to be cleaned

Uses "has to" instead of "must", maintaining a sense of obligation but with a slightly more informal tone.

should be cleaned

Substitutes "must" with "should", suggesting a recommendation rather than a strict necessity.

requires cleaning

Changes the structure to emphasize the necessity of cleaning as a requirement.

is required to be cleaned

Formalizes the phrase, emphasizing the mandated nature of the cleaning.

is essential to clean

Shifts the focus to the essential nature of the cleaning action itself.

it is imperative to clean

Emphasizes the urgency and importance of cleaning.

cleaning is mandatory

Rephrases to focus on the mandatory nature of cleaning, removing the passive voice.

demands cleaning

Uses "demands" to highlight the urgent need for cleaning.

is due for cleaning

Indicates that cleaning is overdue or scheduled.

FAQs

What does "must be cleaned" mean?

The phrase "must be cleaned" indicates that something requires cleaning. It expresses a necessity or obligation to perform the action of cleaning.

How to use "must be cleaned" in a sentence?

Use "must be cleaned" to indicate an obligation or requirement for cleaning. For instance: "The laboratory equipment "must be cleaned" after each experiment".

Which is correct, "must be cleaned" or "needs to be cleaned"?

Both phrases are correct, but "must be cleaned" implies a stronger obligation than "needs to be cleaned", which suggests a requirement.

What can I say instead of "must be cleaned"?

You can use alternatives like "should be cleaned", "requires cleaning", or "has to be cleaned" depending on the context and the level of obligation you want to express.