needs to adjust

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "needs to adjust" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is used when referring to making a necessary change to something. For example, "The company needs to adjust its policies to better reflect customer needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

When a teenage son has an addiction, she said, "everyone in the family needs to adjust".

The New York Times

"The economy needs to adjust," said Märten Ross, deputy governor of the Bank of Estonia.

The New York Times

"Once we have membership negotiations," he said, "it's a reality which everyone needs to adjust to".

The New York Times

But if Stanton needs to adjust, Dobbs said, he probably will.

The New York Times - Sports

And the teacher needs to adjust to the student; it's certainly not the other way around.

The New York Times

Dig into the right data and find firm evidence that popular culture needs to adjust its assumptions and its aim.

The Guardian

At the same time, he said, the department needs to adjust when a crime pattern ebbs and relocates.

The New York Times

But sterling's decline also argues for delay since the British economy now needs to adjust to a lower exchange-rate.

The Economist

"We have a significant interest generally in trying to make sure the financial system gets through this, adjusts where it needs to adjust and emerges stronger".

The New York Times

We think consensus needs to adjust down further for 2015/2016 – our full year 2015 estimated £431m operating profit post transformation costs sits around 8% below company consensus.

The Guardian - Business

Information, how it's collected, where it goes, and how it is experienced needs to adjust according to the way the user is looking at it and touching it.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "needs to adjust", ensure the subject clearly identifies who or what requires the adjustment and that the context explains the reason for the necessity.

Common error

Avoid using "needs to adjust" without specifying what needs adjustment. For example, instead of saying "The system needs to adjust", clarify with "The system needs to adjust its algorithm to improve accuracy."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs to adjust" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing necessity or requirement. It indicates that a subject requires modification or adaptation to achieve a desired outcome or to function correctly. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "needs to adjust" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that indicates a requirement for modification or adaptation. Ludwig AI confirms this. It is commonly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, making it versatile for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what requires adjustment and the reason behind it. Consider alternatives like "requires modification" or "demands adaptation" to add nuance to your writing, though, "needs to adjust" offers a direct and universally understood way to convey the necessity for change.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

requires modification

Changes "needs" to "requires", indicating a necessity, and "to adjust" to "modification", specifying the act of changing.

demands adaptation

Replaces "needs" with "demands", suggesting a stronger imperative, and "to adjust" with "adaptation", focusing on the process of adapting.

must be modified

Uses "must be" to convey obligation and "modified" to highlight the alteration aspect.

requires alteration

Similar to "requires modification" but uses "alteration" instead, emphasizing a more significant change.

should be adapted

Substitutes "needs" with "should be", suggesting a recommendation rather than a strict necessity, and uses "adapted" to focus on fitting a new situation.

calls for a change

Replaces the verb phrase with a noun phrase, indicating a demand for a transformation.

is in need of revision

Emphasizes the necessity of re-evaluating and rewriting, which is a more specific type of adjustment.

necessitates a shift

Highlights that a move or change in direction is required, often in strategy or approach.

is ripe for transformation

Suggests that conditions are optimal for a complete change, which is a broader implication than a simple adjustment.

warrants refinement

Indicates that improvements or corrections are justified, focusing on making something more precise or subtle.

FAQs

How can I use "needs to adjust" in a sentence?

The phrase "needs to adjust" is used to express that something requires modification or alteration to function correctly or to meet new requirements. For example, "The company "needs to adjust" its marketing strategy to appeal to a younger audience."

What are some alternatives to "needs to adjust"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "requires modification", "demands adaptation", or "should be adapted" instead of "needs to adjust". Each alternative carries a slightly different nuance.

Which is correct, "needs to adjust" or "needs adjusting"?

"Needs to adjust" is generally followed by a verb in its base form (e.g., "The software needs to adjust its settings"), while "needs adjusting" implies that something requires the act of being adjusted (e.g., "The focus on this camera needs adjusting"). The correct one depends on the sentence structure.

How does "needs to adjust" differ from "has to adjust"?

"Needs to adjust" implies a requirement based on current circumstances or a desired outcome, while "has to adjust" suggests an obligation or a command that must be followed, often due to external pressure or rules. The first one indicates necessity while the other indicates obligation.