need to be complemented

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "need to be complemented" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that requires additional elements or enhancements to be complete or effective. Example: "The project is well-structured, but it needs to be complemented with more detailed research to support the findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But our commitments need to be complemented with implementation.

The Guardian

They would need to be complemented by careful controls on lending.

The New York Times

Australian governments came relatively late to the realisation that anti-terrorism laws need to be complemented by community-based strategies.

The Guardian - Opinion

They need to be complemented with evidence from these long-running debates and embedded in a theoretical framework and worldview.

The New York Times - Books

Technological controls, such as firewalls which restrict access to certain sites, need to be complemented with educating children about the dangers from a very young age.

The Guardian

Cash transfers still need to be complemented by the provision of public goods that markets will not provide efficiently, such as clean water, sanitation or immunisation.

The Guardian

Occasional moves by Brussels to police the taxation of multinationals need to be complemented by co-ordinated and sustained international efforts that close loopholes and ensure tax regimes keep pace with the digital economy.

The Guardian - Business

Finally, this study is limited in various ways, which need to be complemented by future studies.

Language Testing in Asia

The Latin names do not need to be complemented by common names.

Environmental Sciences Europe

Tree species diversity experiments therefore need to be complemented with comparative observational studies in existing forests.

Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics

Dashboards need to be complemented by mechanisms supporting citizens' engagement, data interpretation, governance and institutional arrangements.

Government Information Quarterly

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "need to be complemented", ensure that you clearly specify what elements or aspects are required to provide the necessary completion or enhancement. For example, "The initial strategy needs to be complemented by a detailed action plan."

Common error

Avoid using "need to be complemented" without clearly stating what needs to be added. For instance, instead of saying "The research needs to be complemented", specify "The research needs to be complemented with experimental data."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "need to be complemented" functions as a passive verb phrase indicating that something requires further additions or enhancements to achieve completeness or effectiveness. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "need to be complemented" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that signifies the necessity for additional elements or enhancements to achieve completeness or effectiveness. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase sees substantial usage across diverse contexts, particularly within scientific literature and news media. When using "need to be complemented", clarity is essential; specify what elements are required to provide the needed completion. Remember that the phrase itself indicates that something, in its current form, is lacking and requires further attention to be whole.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

require supplementation

Emphasizes the addition of something extra to make it complete.

demand enhancement

Highlights the necessity for improvement and elevation.

should be augmented

Focuses on increasing or enriching something through additions.

must be reinforced

Stresses the need for strengthening and backing up.

call for reinforcement

Indicates a need for bolstering and supporting existing elements.

necessitate enrichment

Highlights the importance of improving the quality or value through additions.

benefit from further additions

Suggests that something would improve with more elements.

would gain from enhancement

Implies that something would be improved if it was enhanced.

are incomplete without additions

Explicitly states the lack of completeness without extra elements.

lack essential components

Indicates that crucial parts are missing, requiring supplementation.

FAQs

How can I use "need to be complemented" in a sentence?

Use "need to be complemented" when you want to express that something requires additional elements or features to be complete or effective. For example: "The theoretical framework needs to be complemented by empirical evidence."

What are some alternatives to "need to be complemented"?

You can use alternatives like "require supplementation", "demand enhancement", or "should be augmented" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "needs to be complemented" instead of "need to be complemented"?

Yes, "needs to be complemented" is correct when referring to a singular subject, while "need to be complemented" is used for plural subjects or in general statements. For example, "The strategy needs to be complemented," versus "These strategies need to be complemented."

What's the difference between "need to be complemented" and "need to be supplemented"?

While both phrases suggest adding something extra, "need to be complemented" implies that the addition will enhance or complete something, whereas "need to be supplemented" simply indicates the addition of something that is lacking.