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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
needs in which
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "needs in which" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a specific type of needs related to a particular context, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "There are various needs in which we must address the concerns of our community."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Formal & Business
Alternative expressions(6)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
10 human-written examples
Is ours an atomised society, driven by parochial material needs, in which nothing beyond the backyard really counts?
News & Media
A psychological theory called Maslow's hierarchy of needs, in which physical necessities like food, health and security trump conceptual needs like self-esteem, may account for people who choose basics over beauty, he said.
News & Media
Based on standard repurchase agreements -- short-term loans commonly used by many firms for daily financing needs, in which borrowers temporarily exchange assets in return for cash up front -- Lehman took a particularly aggressive accounting approach to these transactions.
News & Media
But, he said, "what's changed in the last few years is that it's now become the default, covering wide swaths of our lives and covering wide swaths of law enforcement's responsibilities". He has called for a balancing of privacy and public safety needs in which firms maintain a way — usually with a key — to get the government access to the communications it seeks.
News & Media
"I think they can expect very little unless they are very poor or have very high needs, in which case they will get help both with arranging care and with paying for it.
News & Media
29 65–68 There is increasing disparity between the adaptive capacities of these health systems and the changing environment and healthcare needs in which they operate.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
50 human-written examples
There was a separate audition for the grant she needed, in which she freestyled around the room.
News & Media
And she knew a beautiful space was needed in which to digest even the worst of news.
News & Media
Further studies are needed in which initiation at different stages of estrus and different doses of altrenogest are used.
The Norwegian Red Cross began a fund-raising drive today called Neighbors in Need, in which 2,000 volunteers will seek donations to help the Kola region.
News & Media
In 3D model retrieval, preprocessing of 3D models is needed, in which alignment is a key factor that significantly affects retrieval performance.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Prefer using clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "needs that", "needs for which", or restructuring the sentence to avoid the "in which" construction altogether. For example, instead of "addressing needs in which external environment measures are important", consider "addressing needs where external environment measures are important".
Common error
Avoid using "needs in which" as it can create ambiguity. Instead, clarify the relationship between the need and its context. For example, instead of saying "a strategy needed in which local authorities play a pro-active role", specify "a strategy is needed where local authorities play a pro-active role" or "a strategy that requires local authorities to play a pro-active role".
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "needs in which" functions as a relative clause attempting to provide additional information about the "needs". However, Ludwig AI identifies this construction as grammatically incorrect, suggesting the use of alternatives for improved clarity and grammatical accuracy. Although there are some examples, they don't validate the correctness of the expression.
Frequent in
Science
40%
News & Media
30%
Formal & Business
30%
Less common in
Social Media
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "needs in which" appears in some contexts, particularly in scientific and news-related articles, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI marks this as an incorrect phrase. Alternatives like "needs that" or rephrasing the sentence are preferable for clarity and grammatical accuracy. Despite its presence in a limited number of sources, it's best to avoid this phrase in formal writing and opt for clearer, more conventional alternatives. When writing, always consider if it would be better to use "where" instead of "in which" if the context of needs relates to place or situation.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
requirements in which
Replaces "needs" with "requirements" to denote a more formal necessity, while retaining the original structure.
needs for which
Emphasizes the purpose or reason behind the needs, using "for which" to clarify the relationship.
necessities in which
Replaces "needs" with "necessities", highlighting essential or indispensable requirements.
needs that involve
Replaces the preposition "in which" with a relative pronoun "that" followed by a verb, making the sentence structure more direct.
circumstances in which needs
Frames the context as "circumstances", highlighting the conditions surrounding the needs.
demands in which
Substitutes "needs" with "demands" to convey a stronger sense of urgency or insistence.
needs where
Substitutes "in which" with the simpler relative adverb "where", suitable for contexts describing location or situation.
situations where needs
Frames the context as "situations", using "where" to indicate the circumstances related to the needs.
instances where needs
Highlights specific "instances" when needs arise, using "where" to connect the context.
areas where needs
Restructures the phrase to focus on "areas" as the subject, using "where" to link to the location of the needs.
FAQs
What are some alternatives to "needs in which"?
You can use alternatives like "needs that", "needs for which", or restructure the sentence to use "where" depending on the context.
Is "needs in which" grammatically correct?
No, the phrase "needs in which" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use phrases like "needs that" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.
How can I rephrase a sentence using "needs in which" for better clarity?
Instead of saying "needs in which external environment measures are important", try "needs that consider external environment measures" or "needs where external environment measures are important".
What is the difference between "needs in which" and "needs that"?
"Needs in which" is often grammatically awkward. "Needs that" is a more direct and generally preferred way to connect needs with a relative clause.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested