must be full

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must be full" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a necessity or requirement for something to be complete or filled to capacity. Example: "The tank must be full before we can start the engine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Hockey and Rowing must be full then".

Independent

The target must be full employment.

The Guardian - Opinion

For tickets to be cheap, planes must be full.

The New York Times

"You must be full of sorrow," people said.

The New York Times - Travel

And lips must be full, the lower gently crescented and the upper a perfect bow.

The New Yorker

For adherents of high-definition technology, everything must be full of crisp detail.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

And there must be full-scale testing of the containers to be used for transporting this waste.

The New York Times

Fresh Army Reserve advertising campaigns will remind service members that "honor is never off duty" and that part-time soldiers must be full-time warriors.

The New York Times

The members, who are mostly new, must be full-time Florida A&M students in good academic standing; and, just as important, they must be well versed in the dangers, penalties and definitions of hazing.

The New York Times

Freedman was frustrated by the performance of official Carl Berry during yesterday's 1-1 drandand said: "They must be full-time trained, full-time fitness-wise and helped with things so they will understand the game more.

Independent

If you have applied for student immigration permission on or after 31 March 2009, the conditions are as follows: Your course must be full-time and of a duration of more than 6 months.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "must be full" to describe a requirement, ensure the context clearly indicates what is being filled and to what extent. For example, "The application form must be full and accurate."

Common error

Avoid using "must be full" in situations where the object being described and the required level of fullness are not clear. Instead of saying "The system must be full", specify "The database must be full of accurate data."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be full" primarily functions as an expression of necessity or requirement. As Ludwig highlights, it signifies that a certain condition of completeness or capacity should be met. The numerous examples illustrate its use across diverse contexts to indicate what needs to be completely filled.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

24%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "must be full" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression indicating a requirement for completeness or capacity. As noted by Ludwig, its high frequency across diverse sources like news media, science, and formal business contexts indicates widespread acceptance. The analysis shows this phrase serves to assert necessary conditions, with related alternatives including "needs to be complete" and "has to be filled". While versatile, clarity is key: ensure the context defines what needs to be full. With examples, it is clear to say that the phrase is deemed correct and usable in written English, emphasizing the demand for something to reach total capacity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

needs to be complete

Emphasizes the requirement for something to reach a state of completeness.

must be jam-packed

Suggests being filled to the utmost extent.

has to be filled

Focuses on the action of filling something to its maximum capacity.

is required to be full

Highlights the mandatory aspect of something being filled.

should be completely filled

Suggests a recommendation for something to be filled entirely.

is bound to be filled

Indicates something is inevitably going to be filled.

ought to be brimming

Implies that something should be overflowing or abundant.

is expected to be overflowing

Conveys an anticipation for something to exceed its capacity.

is essential to be replete

Indicates the necessity of something being abundantly filled or satisfied.

is imperative to be loaded

Emphasizes the critical nature of something being fully loaded or supplied.

FAQs

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

Use "must be full" to indicate a requirement or expectation for something to be completely filled. For example, "The gas tank must be full before we start the journey" or "The container must be full to ensure accurate measurement."

What are some alternatives to "must be full"?

You can use alternatives like "needs to be complete", "has to be filled", or "is required to be full" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "must be full"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Must" functions as a modal verb indicating necessity, "be" is the infinitive form of the verb "to be", and "full" is an adjective describing the state of being complete or filled.

What's the difference between "must be full" and "should be full"?

"Must be full" indicates a requirement or obligation, while "should be full" suggests a recommendation or expectation. The former implies a stricter condition than the latter.