need by

USAGE SUMMARY

"need by" is not correct or usable in written English.
When talking about a deadline, the correct phrase is "needed by". For example, "This report needs to be completed and submitted by Friday."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I think we will only get the scale we need by shaping the market.

The New York Times

"I underestimated what I would need by half," she said.

The New York Times

We address this need by developing a maturity model.

Information & Management

They argue that they are still meeting a need by developing in this way.

The Guardian

We can understand what pet animals need by looking, for a moment, at animals in zoos.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Tissue engineering aims to fulfill this need by developing replacement tissues in vitro.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Equally important is need by practitioners and a high potential for economic growth.

Cornell University

That is all I will need by way of a recall today.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This is the projected number of additional STEM graduates the American workforce will need by 2022.

University of California, Berkeley

Preventive medicine will need, by strange necessity, to emulate the patterns from deep in our past.

The New York Times

Get rough sleepers the help they need by reporting their presence to charities via www.streetlink.org.uk.uk

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying a deadline or requirement, use the correct phrasing "needed by" instead of "need by".

Common error

Avoid using "need by" when indicating a deadline; the correct form is "needed by". For example, say "The report is needed by Friday" instead of "The report is need by Friday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "need by" typically functions as part of a prepositional phrase, often intended to indicate a deadline or requirement. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect in this context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "need by" appears frequently across various sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect when indicating a deadline or requirement. Ludwig AI recommends using "needed by" instead. Although the phrase has a very common presence, its usage spans across diverse contexts from news and academia to informal wikis, the prevalent grammatical error suggests that using "needed by" ensures clarity and correctness, especially in formal writing. Always favor the grammatically correct option to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

needed by

This is the correct phrasing when indicating a requirement or deadline.

required by

Indicates something is mandatory according to a specific rule or law.

necessitated by

Implies that a situation or action makes something necessary.

dictated by

Suggests something is determined or controlled by a particular factor or authority.

determined by

Focuses on the influence of one thing on another's state or outcome.

specified by

Highlights the explicit instructions or conditions set for something.

obligated by

Emphasizes a legal or moral duty to do something.

compelled by

Indicates a strong, irresistible force or influence.

driven by

Highlights the motivating factor behind an action or decision.

prompted by

Suggests an action or event that initiated or triggered something else.

FAQs

How should I properly use the phrase "need by"?

The phrase "need by" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. When referring to a deadline or requirement, it is more appropriate to use the phrase "needed by".

What's the difference between "need by" and "needed by"?

"Need by" is grammatically incorrect. "Needed by" is the correct phrase to indicate a deadline or requirement. For example, "The project is needed by Monday".

Are there alternatives to the phrase "needed by"?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use phrases like "required by", "due by", or "necessary by" to convey a similar meaning. However, "needed by" is the most direct and common way to indicate a deadline.

Is "need by" ever correct in any context?

The phrase "need by" is rarely correct in standard English. It's almost always better to use "needed by" when specifying a requirement or deadline. In certain very specific and uncommon sentence structures, it might be grammatically acceptable, but rephrasing is usually preferable for clarity.