must be held

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must be held" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is required or necessary to take place, often in a formal context. Example: "The meeting must be held on the first Monday of every month to ensure all members are present."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Those waywards must be held accountable".

The New York Times

It must be held to that timetable.

The New York Times

The soldiers must be held accountable".

Independent

Italy's must be held by next spring.

The Economist

It must be held at a custodian.

The New York Times

Everyone must be held accountable".

The New York Times - Magazine

"Milosevic must be held responsible," Davorin says.

The New York Times - Magazine

Each bishop must be held directly accountable".

The New York Times

"They must be held to account.

The Guardian

The agencies must be held accountable.

The Guardian

"Those who perpetrated these crimes must be held accountable".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "must be held" when emphasizing the obligatory nature of an event or condition, particularly in formal or official contexts. For example, "Elections must be held before the end of the year."

Common error

Avoid using "must be held" in casual conversation; it can sound overly formal or even stilted. Opt for more natural alternatives like "needs to be" or "has to be" in everyday speech. For example, instead of saying "The meeting must be held today", say "The meeting needs to be held today."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be held" primarily functions as a modal verb phrase expressing obligation or necessity. It indicates that something is required or mandatory. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it is often used to emphasize accountability or the inevitability of an event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "must be held" is a modal verb construction used to express obligation, necessity, or requirement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, particularly in formal contexts such as news, business, and legal communications. The phrase is versatile, capable of conveying the need for accountability, the inevitability of an event, or the requirement for something to be maintained. While highly useful in professional and formal settings, it's important to consider context and avoid overuse in casual conversation, where more natural alternatives might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

must be preserved

Highlights the importance of keeping something intact, often due to its value or significance.

needs to be maintained

Focuses on the continuation of a current state, implying a necessary action to keep it that way.

should be maintained

Indicates a recommendation to keep something in good condition or at a certain level.

needs to be preserved

Focuses on necessity of maintaining something due to its fragility, value, or importance.

has to be sustained

Emphasizes the effort required to keep something going or at a certain level.

should be preserved

Suggests importance of keeping something intact, as in, not altering it from its current state.

is required to be kept

Highlights the obligatory nature of maintaining something, often implying a rule or regulation.

ought to be conserved

Implies careful management and protection of resources or qualities to ensure their longevity.

is bound to be respected

Highlights that something is definitely going to be appreciated. Usually relates to abstract concepts and values.

is obliged to be honored

Emphasizes legal or moral duty when referring to agreements and values.

FAQs

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

Use "must be held" to express a requirement or obligation. For example, "The company "must be held responsible" for its actions" or "An election "must be held by" next spring".

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

You can use alternatives like "needs to be maintained", "has to be sustained", or "is required to be kept" depending on the specific context.

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

Both "must be held" and "needs to be held" are grammatically correct, but they carry slightly different connotations. "Must be held" implies a stronger obligation or requirement, while "needs to be held" suggests a necessity. The choice depends on the desired emphasis.

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

"Must be held accountable" expresses a firm conviction that someone needs to take responsibility for their actions, while "should be held accountable" suggests a recommendation or suggestion that someone ought to be responsible but isn't as forceful.