must exceed the

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must exceed the" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where a requirement or threshold needs to be established, often in formal or technical writing. Example: "The total weight of the package must exceed the specified limit to qualify for the shipment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There his claim must exceed the jurisdictional amount.

Cornell University

The only restriction is that the distance required must exceed the longitudinal radius of the source.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

Both gains or declines in scores must exceed the margin of error to be statistically significant.

The New York Times

The only criterion is that falling snow must exceed the melting ice to sustain the glacier.

University of California, Berkeley

But Ms. Fleeger would not disclose by how much a driver must exceed the limit to be considered speeding.

The New York Times

First, the rate of accumulation must exceed the rate of breakage, otherwise fibrils would depolymerize more rapidly than they polymerize.

Stanford University

For successful calcination to occur, the residence time of the particles must exceed the time required for heating and subsequent treatment.

Chemical Engineering Science

For a spherical-cap nucleus to become a "transformation nucleus", the linear dimension (d) of the flat substrate must exceed the critical nucleus size (2r∗).

Acta Materialia

He interpreted the Moody's report as bolstering his contention that "a credible agreement means the spending cuts must exceed the debt-limit increase".

The New York Times

For change to occur, the forces must exceed the thresholds of resistance imposed by the earth materials on which they act.

Britannica

Mr. Pompeo must exceed the terms of the Iran deal, which President Trump rejected as a "disaster," in dismantling North Korea's nuclear abilities.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When setting requirements or thresholds, clearly define the units of measurement to avoid ambiguity (e.g., "The processing speed "must exceed the" 2 GHz threshold").

Common error

Ensure that the requirement truly involves exceeding, not just reaching or equaling. Using "equal or exceed" is more appropriate if both conditions are acceptable (e.g., "The score "must exceed the" 80%, and if it equals, it won't qualify for honors.").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must exceed the" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a necessary condition or requirement. It establishes a lower boundary that something needs to surpass to meet a specific criterion. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is standard in English and widely applicable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

28%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "must exceed the" is a common and grammatically correct construction used to denote a minimum requirement or threshold. According to Ludwig, it is standard English and widely applicable in formal contexts such as scientific, academic, and news reporting. To ensure clarity, always specify the units of measurement. Avoid confusing "exceed" with "equal", using "equal or exceed" if necessary. The phrase sees frequent use in science and news, emphasizing its importance in setting objective criteria.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

needs to surpass the

Replaces "must exceed" with "needs to surpass", focusing on necessity and outdoing a specific point.

must be higher than the

Simply states the necessity of being at a higher level compared to a reference point.

has to go beyond the

Uses "has to go beyond" to emphasize the necessity of exceeding a limit, often implying pushing boundaries.

must be in excess of the

Uses a more formal tone, indicating the necessity of surpassing a limit.

is required to be greater than the

Emphasizes the necessary condition of being larger than a specified value, making it more formal.

should be more than the

Suggests exceeding as a recommendation or guideline rather than a strict requirement.

is obliged to outstrip the

Obligation of exceeding.

is expected to outperform the

Shifts the focus to performance and exceeding expectations or benchmarks.

must top the

Implies reaching the maximum value.

should overstep the

Suggests intentionally exceeding a limit.

FAQs

How can I use "must exceed the" in a sentence?

Use "must exceed the" to indicate a required threshold. For instance, "The project budget "must exceed the" initial estimate" or "The temperature "must exceed the" freezing point".

What phrases are similar to "must exceed the"?

Alternatives include "needs to surpass the", "has to go beyond the", or "must be higher than the". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "must exceed the" or "has to exceed the"?

"Must exceed the" is generally more formal than "has to exceed the". "Must" implies a stricter requirement or obligation. "Has to" is less formal and more conversational.

What's the difference between "must exceed the" and "should exceed the"?

"Must exceed the" indicates a mandatory condition that "needs to surpass the" defined value. In contrast, "should exceed the" suggests a recommendation or guideline, not a strict requirement.