needs revision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "needs revision" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that a piece of writing requires changes or improvements. Example: "The report is well-structured, but it needs revision to enhance clarity and coherence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Genes with peptides mapped to novel regions such as intron, exon-intron boundary and non-coding region, are counted as "Genes to be revised", indicating that the annotation of these genes needs revision.

BMC Plant Biology

A rule that allows that to happen needs revision.

The New York Times

The party's secretary-general, Mari Alkatiri, admits it needs revision.

The Economist

It is deeply flawed and needs revision, but it would be a start.

The Guardian

One of his conclusions: the ethics code is inadequate and needs revision.

The New York Times

He has endorsed the new road but says the master plan needs revision.

The Economist

Related: This US-Europe trade deal needs revision | Letters But there are formidable pitfalls and obstacles along the way.

The Guardian - Business

"The legal description of publishing crimes is too broad, and the law of publishing needs revision," he said.

The New York Times

"The invoice sent needs revision," said the e-mail from Ms. Ortiz, which Ms. Lopez read aloud from the stand.

The New York Times

If that frequency (or pitch) is now the acoustical bedrock of the universe, perhaps our entire tuning system, centered on middle C, needs revision.

The New York Times

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, as well as chemical industry representatives and environmental advocates, agree that the law needs revision.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "needs revision", be specific about what aspects require changes. Instead of saying "The report needs revision", clarify with "The report needs revision regarding its data analysis section."

Common error

Avoid using "needs revision" excessively in passive constructions. For instance, rather than "The document is thought to need revision", opt for the more direct "The document needs revision" or "We should revise the document."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs revision" functions as a verb phrase indicating the requirement for changes or improvements to something. Ludwig provides examples where the phrase is used to express that documents, plans, models, or strategies are not yet satisfactory and need further work.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "needs revision" is a grammatically correct and highly versatile expression used to indicate that something requires modification, improvement, or correction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is commonly found in news, scientific, and business contexts, signaling a need for action to enhance the quality or suitability of the subject in question. While alternatives such as "requires editing" or "demands improvement" exist, "needs revision" offers a balance of formality and directness, making it a widely applicable choice in various writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

requires modification

Focuses on the necessity for alteration, similar to revision.

demands improvement

Emphasizes the need for enhancement.

calls for changes

Highlights the need for alterations, often in a more significant way.

requires adjustment

Suggests a need for fine-tuning.

is in need of an overhaul

Indicates that a complete transformation is needed.

could be improved

Suggests a potential for betterment.

would benefit from changes

Highlights the advantages that alterations would bring.

is imperfect and requires work

States not only that it's imperfect, but also that it needs labour/job/efforts to improve it.

warrants further refinement

Indicates that additional improvements are justified.

is due for an update

Suggests that the time is right to do changes.

FAQs

How can I use "needs revision" in a sentence?

You can use "needs revision" to indicate that something requires changes or improvements. For instance, "The current plan needs revision to align with the updated goals."

What are some alternatives to saying "needs revision"?

Alternatives include phrases like "requires modification", "demands improvement", or "calls for changes", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "needs revisions"?

While "needs revision" is more common and grammatically standard, "needs revisions" is also acceptable, particularly when referring to multiple specific areas that require improvement. However, "needs revision" is generally preferred for its concise clarity.

What's the difference between "needs revision" and "requires editing"?

"Needs revision" implies more substantial changes or rethinking, while "requires editing" typically refers to correcting errors in grammar, style, or formatting. Revision can encompass editing, but it often involves deeper modifications to content or structure.