must be fought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must be fought" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express the necessity of addressing or combating a particular issue or challenge. Example: "Injustice in society must be fought to ensure equality for all."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unity must be fought for.

The New York Times - Arts

Jihad must be fought without limits.

The New York Times - Magazine

This must be fought to the death.

The New Yorker

All wars are terrible, but some must be fought.

The New Yorker

For a start, draconian government regulation must be fought back.

The Economist

Such rights are always contested and must be fought for.

The Guardian

Equality is unnatural and must be fought for.

The Guardian - Opinion

The battle must be fought as a conflict of rival philosophies.

The Guardian - Opinion

"From a logical point of view, iron must be fought with iron and fire by fire".

The New York Times

"Any incitement to hatred must be fought with the greatest firmness".

The New York Times

It must be fought, and won.Many are afraid of the battle that lies ahead.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "must be fought" when emphasizing the necessity of actively combating or opposing something, especially in contexts where direct action is required.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive voice when using "must be fought". Instead of "The war must be fought by someone", consider "We must fight the war" for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be fought" functions as a modal passive construction, indicating a strong obligation or necessity for something to be opposed or combatted. Ludwig's examples show it's used when action is needed against an undesirable force.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

16%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "must be fought" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that emphasizes the need for active opposition or combat against something. As shown by Ludwig, it commonly appears in news and media, formal business contexts, and science, conveying a sense of urgency and determination. Alternatives like "needs to be combatted" or "has to be challenged" can be used to subtly alter the emphasis. When using "must be fought", it's advisable to avoid overuse of passive voice for a more impactful statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

needs to be combatted

Replaces "fought" with "combatted", emphasizing active opposition.

has to be challenged

Substitutes "fought" with "challenged", focusing on questioning or disputing something.

should be resisted

Emphasizes opposition by using "resisted" instead of "fought".

requires confrontation

Replaces the verb phrase with a noun phrase, highlighting the need for a direct encounter.

demands opposition

Substitutes the verb phrase with another, emphasizing the necessity of resistance.

warrants defiance

Replaces "fought" with "defiance", focusing on open resistance or disobedience.

must be addressed

Shifts focus to handling a problem rather than directly fighting it.

ought to be opposed

Replaces "must" with "ought to", softening the obligation, and "fought" with "opposed".

calls for action against

Emphasizes the need for action but avoids the direct connotation of fighting.

necessitates a struggle

Highlights the struggle involved but uses a more formal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "must be fought" in a sentence?

The phrase "must be fought" is used to express the necessity of actively opposing or combating something. For example, "Injustice "must be fought" at every turn".

What are some alternatives to saying "must be fought"?

Alternatives include phrases like "needs to be combatted", "should be resisted", or "has to be challenged", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "must be fought" or "needs to be addressed"?

"Must be fought" implies a direct confrontation or active opposition, while "needs to be addressed" suggests a problem requiring attention and resolution. The best choice depends on whether you want to emphasize conflict or problem-solving.

What does "must be fought" imply about the situation?

The phrase "must be fought" implies that the situation is serious, requires active intervention, and cannot be ignored or passively accepted. It suggests a necessary struggle against something undesirable.