needs so that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "needs so that" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used to express a requirement or necessity followed by a purpose or condition, but it is often incomplete or awkward in construction. Example: "She needs to study hard so that she can pass the exam."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As a woman over 60, she has certain fit needs, so that is important to her.

The New York Times

The company also empowers local stores to come up with campaigns tied to their communities' needs so that shop floor employees take ownership of sustainability.

Harvard Business Review

He lies to her about his own needs so that she won't worry.

The Guardian - Tech

I believe so, but the challenge is to design spaces that support substantial specific needs so that they are used regularly for their intended purpose.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

At Joel H. Schwartz, P.C., our first priority is taking care of your immediate questions and needs so that you can feel more comfortable with your difficult situation.

Cornell University

With the smaller screen, it is important to remember the users' needs, so that you are providing relevant information, rather than cramming everything into one small screen.

The Guardian

The data is layered according to the client's needs, so that the digital image can be manipulated, adding or subtracting layers as needed.

The New York Times - Tech

This means building the homes Britain needs so that everyone can afford a place of their own and get a foot on the housing ladder.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mosteller's job is to anticipate the president's wants and needs so that any given day in the White House can run smoothly.

The Washington Post

When implementing Web-based instruction into the curriculum, it is essential to consider carefully the implications for faculty and student development needs so that the technology can be efficiently and effectively used to support student learning.

Journal of Professional Nursing

It says it also spends money on more capacity than it needs, so that if there are large spikes in customer activity, the service is less likely to go down.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing purpose, consider restructuring your sentence to use "in order to" or "so that" with a modal verb (e.g., "can", "will", "may") for improved clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Ensure that your sentences using "needs so that" include a clear subject and verb after "so that" to avoid creating incomplete or dangling clauses. A complete clause clarifies the intended result or purpose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs so that" functions as a connector, indicating a requirement and its intended purpose. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with more appropriate alternatives to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Academia

24%

Science

18%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "needs so that" is commonly used to connect a requirement with its intended purpose. However, Ludwig AI flags this construction as grammatically incorrect, advising writers to opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives such as "requires that" or "needs in order that". While prevalent in various contexts, including News & Media and Academia, clarity and grammatical correctness are best served by choosing alternative phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

needs in order that

Replaces "so that" with "in order that" to provide a more formal and grammatically standard construction.

requires that

Uses "requires" to directly state the necessity, followed by "that" to introduce the purpose.

needs to in order to

Specifies the action "needs to" be done "in order to" achieve the desired outcome.

needs for the purpose of

Emphasizes the intended aim or objective of the need, using "for the purpose of".

must in order to

Indicates a strong obligation or requirement using "must" followed by "in order to".

requires to ensure that

Highlights the necessity to "ensure that" a specific result or condition is met.

needs assistance to

Focuses on the support or help "needs" to be given to accomplish something.

demands to

Expresses a strong need or requirement by using "demands" followed by an infinitive.

necessitates to

Highlights that something "necessitates" a particular action or outcome.

is essential to

Indicates that something "is essential to" achieving a specific goal or result.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "needs so that" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, replace "needs so that" with phrases like "requires that" or "needs in order that", which provide a more grammatically correct and polished construction.

What's a simpler alternative to "needs so that"?

You can simplify "needs so that" by using "needs to in order to", which directly expresses the purpose of the need. This construction is straightforward and easily understood.

Is "needs so that" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "needs so that" is often considered grammatically weak. It's better to use more precise phrases like "requires to ensure that" to clarify the cause-and-effect relationship.

How do I avoid errors when using "needs so that"?

To prevent errors, ensure a full clause follows "so that", including a subject and verb. However, it's safer to opt for alternatives like "must in order to" to maintain grammatical correctness.