must require

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must require" is not correct and is generally considered redundant in written English.
You can use it when trying to emphasize a necessity, but it is better to choose one of the two words to convey your meaning clearly. Example: "The project must require additional resources to be successful."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

First, teacher prep programs must require a holistic portfolio as part of graduation requirements.

HuffPost

Now, the club must require significant change.

The New York Times

It must require a lot of attention, though, doesn't it?

The Guardian - Books

To fuel this leap must require a fund of psychic energy beyond the average capacity.

The New York Times - Arts

Surely something so ubiquitous yet invisible must require deep technical sophistication to understand.

The Guardian - Tech

Rees said: "Success must require genuine breakthroughs but be credibly achieved within five years".

The Guardian

John McCarthy noted that her work must require a certain anger.

The Guardian

Public policy must require individualized high school educational plans, including the option of skipping 12th grade.

The New York Times

States must require proper labeling and packaging of products that contain mind-altering substances.

The New York Times

Directors must require from recruiters detailed explanations of how the candidates fulfill their criteria.

Harvard Business Review

Those methods must require special reaction equipment and accessories, and they are difficultly scaled up.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "must require" is frequently used, consider using stronger, clearer verbs such as "mandate", "stipulate", or "necessitate" to avoid redundancy and enhance the impact of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "must require" when a single, more precise verb can effectively convey the intended meaning. For example, instead of "The policy must require employees to attend training", use "The policy mandates employee training".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must require" functions as a modal construction expressing a strong obligation or necessity for a specific action or condition. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase can often be simplified for better clarity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "must require" is widely used across various contexts, especially in news, academia, and science, Ludwig AI considers it redundant and suggests opting for more concise alternatives. Grammatically, it aims to express a strong obligation, but its effectiveness can be improved by using single, more precise verbs like "mandate" or "stipulate". When writing, be mindful of redundancy and aim for clarity. As a practice, try replacing "must require" with alternatives such as "is required to" or "needs to" for more impactful writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is required to

Replaces "must require" with a passive voice construction, emphasizing the obligation.

needs to

Offers a more informal and direct way to express necessity.

is essential to

Highlights the importance or necessity of something.

is imperative to

Emphasizes the urgency and crucial nature of a requirement.

should

Conveys a recommendation or obligation without the strong force of "must".

is obligated to

Highlights a formal or legal obligation.

has to

Provides a more colloquial alternative to express obligation.

demands

Highlights a firm expectation or requirement.

necessitates

Focuses on the logical consequence of needing something.

calls for

Suggests a need or justification for a particular action or requirement.

FAQs

What is a more concise alternative to "must require"?

Consider using words like "mandate", "stipulate", or "necessitate" for a more direct and impactful expression.

Is "must require" grammatically incorrect?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is often considered redundant. While understandable, it can usually be replaced by a single verb that conveys the same meaning more efficiently.

How can I use "must require" effectively in a sentence?

While it's generally better to use a single verb, if you choose to use "must require", ensure it's for emphasis and that the sentence doesn't become overly wordy. However, consider alternatives like "is required to".

What's the difference between "must require" and "is required to"?

"Is required to" is a passive construction indicating a necessity. "Must require" attempts to combine the sense of obligation ("must") with the act of imposing that obligation ("require"), but it's often more direct and clear to simply state what is required.