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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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needs in which

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE 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

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

The Guardian

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

The New York Times

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

The New York Times

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.

"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

BBC

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.

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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

The New Yorker

And she knew a beautiful space was needed in which to digest even the worst of news.

News & Media

The Guardian

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

The New York Times

In 3D model retrieval, preprocessing of 3D models is needed, in which alignment is a key factor that significantly affects retrieval performance.

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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".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

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.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

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.

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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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: