needs to be circulated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "needs to be circulated" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used in documents that need to be shared with several people. For example, "This letter needs to be circulated to all members of the board."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

A provisional proposal needs to be circulated among EU leaders before 4 February to stand any chance of a final agreement being reached before March.Mr Cameron is expected to speak to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel this week before joining her in Hamburg on 12 February.

Independent

In deeper installations, air needs to be circulated with vents and fans.

WikiHow

The "auto" option will only engage the fan when either the heat or air conditioning turns on and needs to be circulated.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Turns out, it was meant to be circulated internally to show how the company needed to change its culture.

The New York Times

It is clear that the sexual harassment policy of each Japanese teaching hospital still needs to be widely circulated and discussed, and they should provide reporting procedures and counseling for victims and witnesses.

BMC Medical Education

Dr. Sylvia Rhue, Director of Religious Affairs at the National Black Justice Coalition, has written a guest post for the Blend that needs to be saved and circulated.

Huffington Post

Air needs to be able to circulate freely otherwise your appliance will have to work harder and use up more energy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The ICU, thus, is quite different from the van originally delivered by the car maker and needs to be suitable to circulate.

BMC Health Services Research

As the shed is unlikely to have waterproofing in its walls, it needs to be able to circulate air to remove dampness.

WikiHow

This, too, needs to be covered with water that is circulated so as to keep things cool.

The Economist

A scary book but it needs  to be read and widely circulated so the problem can be dealt with before it is too late.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "needs to be circulated", ensure the subject is clearly defined. For example, "The revised policy needs to be circulated among all employees" is clearer than "It needs to be circulated."

Common error

While "needs to be circulated" is grammatically correct, overuse of the passive voice can make your writing sound weak. Consider using an active voice construction if appropriate. For example, instead of "The memo needs to be circulated," you could say, "Please circulate the memo."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs to be circulated" functions as a passive construction indicating a requirement for distribution or dissemination. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and can be used in written English. Examples from Ludwig show its usage in contexts where information or proposals must be shared among a defined group.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "needs to be circulated" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression indicating the requirement for something to be distributed. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples across diverse contexts such as news, wiki articles, and scientific publications. While versatile, writers should be mindful of overuse of passive voice and choose more active constructions when appropriate. Related phrases like "should be disseminated" or "must be distributed" can offer alternative ways to express similar meanings. The phrase is suitable for neutral to slightly formal settings, ensuring clear communication across various audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should be disseminated

Replaces "needs" with "should", implying a recommendation rather than a necessity; "circulated" is replaced by "disseminated", which conveys a broader distribution.

must be distributed

Substitutes "needs to be" with "must be", indicating a stronger obligation; "circulated" is replaced by "distributed", suggesting a wider reach.

requires distribution

Changes the structure to emphasize the requirement of distribution rather than the action of circulating; omits passive voice.

has to be publicized

Replaces "needs to be" with "has to be", implying a requirement; "circulated" is replaced by "publicized", suggesting wider awareness.

should be propagated

Replaces "needs" with "should", implying a recommendation rather than a necessity; "circulated" is replaced by "propagated", suggesting growth in spread.

must be communicated

Substitutes "needs to be" with "must be", indicating a stronger obligation; "circulated" is replaced by "communicated", focusing on conveying information.

requires wide circulation

Changes the structure to emphasize the requirement of wide circulation rather than the action of circulating; omits passive voice.

ought to be spread

Replaces "needs to be" with "ought to be", indicating a moral obligation; "circulated" is replaced by "spread", suggesting a less formal distribution.

is meant to be shared

Changes the structure to emphasize the intention of sharing rather than the necessity of circulation; omits passive voice.

should be passed around

Replaces "needs" with "should", implying a recommendation rather than a necessity; "circulated" is replaced by "passed around", suggesting an informal distribution.

FAQs

How can I use "needs to be circulated" in a sentence?

Use "needs to be circulated" to indicate that something requires distribution among a group. For example, "The new guidelines "needs to be circulated" to all team members before the end of the week".

What are some alternatives to "needs to be circulated"?

Alternatives include phrases like "should be disseminated", "must be distributed", or "requires distribution", depending on the level of obligation or formality you want to convey.

Is "needs to be circulated" formal or informal?

"Needs to be circulated" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. More informal options might include "should be passed around" or "needs to go around."

What is the difference between "needs to be circulated" and "needs to be distributed"?

While similar, "needs to be distributed" often implies a wider, less targeted reach than ""needs to be circulated"", which suggests a more specific group is intended to receive the information.