needed to be sent

USAGE SUMMARY

"needed to be sent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about something that was supposed to be sent, but has not been sent yet. For example: "The documents needed to be sent before the end of the day, but they were never sent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

A message needed to be sent to the public and the City.

Independent

We were led to believe that Mode 2 commands needed to be sent 66 times per second until button release.

Cornell University

Only a few of the issues found during testing needed to be sent back to the designers to be resolved.

University of California, Berkeley

For that reason, he agreed with the Thomas three that the case needed to be sent back.

The New York Times

Once upon a time, almost all residents in SoHo had locked elevators that needed to be sent down for visitors.

The New York Times

Still, he said he could not recall an instance in which tears changed his mind about how long an offender needed to be sent up the river.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

The rest needs to be sent, swiftly.

The New York Times

Send whatever needs to be sent.

Princeton University

All materials need to be sent through IDOC.

Harvard University

Voting forms need to be sent back by May 28.

The Guardian - Money

More need to be sent back, says Merkel.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider rewording to active voice for more direct and concise sentences. For example, instead of "The report needed to be sent", try "Someone needed to send the report".

Common error

While "needed to be sent" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound weak or vague. Opt for active voice when possible to create a more engaging and direct style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needed to be sent" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an action (sending) needed to be performed on a particular subject. As Ludwig AI points out, this construction is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "needed to be sent" is a grammatically sound and commonly used passive voice construction that effectively conveys the necessity of something being dispatched. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While versatile across various contexts, including news, science, and academia, writers should be mindful of potential overuse of the passive voice and consider active voice alternatives for more directness. Be attentive to use alternative phrases such as "required to be dispatched", "had to be forwarded", or "was crucial to transmit".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

required to be dispatched

Emphasizes the necessity of sending something out quickly and efficiently.

had to be forwarded

Focuses on the act of passing something along to a new destination.

was crucial to transmit

Highlights the importance of the transmission process.

was essential to ship

Specifically refers to sending goods or items.

demanded to be mailed

Suggests a strong need for sending something through the postal service.

should have been conveyed

Implies that something should have been sent or communicated.

was slated for delivery

Indicates that something was scheduled to be sent.

was programmed to transmit

Specifically refers to the transmission process and can be relevant for technological context.

ought to have been routed

Indicates an action that should have been done. Routing the package.

was due for remittance

Refers to the action when money has to be transferred.

FAQs

How can I use "needed to be sent" in a sentence?

You can use "needed to be sent" to indicate that something was required to be dispatched or transmitted. For example, "The urgent message "needed to be sent" immediately to prevent further delays".

What are some alternatives to "needed to be sent"?

Alternatives include phrases like "required to be dispatched", "had to be forwarded", or "was crucial to transmit". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Which is correct, "needed to be sent" or "needed to send"?

"Needed to be sent" is in the passive voice and indicates something required dispatch. "Needed to send" implies a requirement to perform the sending action. The correct choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the action being performed on an object or the obligation of someone to send something.

What's the difference between "needed to be sent" and "had to be sent"?

While both phrases convey a sense of necessity, "needed to be sent" suggests a requirement based on a specific condition or situation. "Had to be sent" implies a stronger obligation or urgency, often due to a direct command or unavoidable circumstance.