needs to be cleaned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "needs to be cleaned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something requires cleaning or maintenance. Example: "The kitchen is a mess and it really needs to be cleaned before we can cook."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Cleaning up your online reputation, then, begins with seeing if it needs to be cleaned up in the first place.

Huffington Post

It needs to be cleaned.

The Economist

It needs to be cleaned up.

The New York Times

Instead, it needs to be cleaned.

The Economist

It certainly needs to be cleaned up.

The New York Times

"The town of Southampton needs to be cleaned up".

The New York Times

But, yes, your toaster oven needs to be cleaned sometimes.

The Washington Post

The diesel engine is an efficient power generator but its exhaust gas needs to be cleaned.

Chemical Engineering Science

Whatever the cause, I decide that the fruit drawer needs to be cleaned.

Yale University

// however this portion of the code still needs to be cleaned up.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

And now, it needs to be cleaned before it can be replaced on area beaches.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "needs to be cleaned", ensure the subject requiring cleaning is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "it needs to be cleaned", specify "the kitchen needs to be cleaned".

Common error

While acceptable in most contexts, "needs to be cleaned" can sound less formal than alternatives like "requires cleaning" or "should be cleaned" in professional or academic writing. Choose the phrasing that best suits your audience and purpose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs to be cleaned" functions as a passive construction indicating that the subject requires cleaning. It is commonly used to express a necessity or requirement for cleaning. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "needs to be cleaned" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to express that something requires cleaning. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. While it is appropriate for various contexts, including news, academic, and general writing, it's important to consider the level of formality required. Alternatives like "requires cleaning" or "should be cleaned" might be more suitable for professional or academic settings. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media and academic content, making it a versatile choice for different types of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

requires cleaning

Uses a more formal verb "requires" instead of "needs", but maintains the same passive construction.

must be cleaned

Emphasizes the necessity of cleaning more strongly than "needs to be cleaned".

should be cleaned

Replaces "needs" with "should", indicating a recommendation rather than a strict necessity.

is in need of cleaning

Rephrases to emphasize the state of requiring cleaning.

requires tidying

Substitutes "cleaning" with "tidying", implying a lighter, less intensive cleaning process.

is due for a cleaning

Indicates that cleaning is scheduled or expected.

would benefit from cleaning

Suggests that cleaning would be advantageous, rather than strictly necessary.

warrants cleaning

A more formal way of expressing that something deserves to be cleaned.

calls for cleaning

Implies that the situation necessitates cleaning.

is up for cleaning

Suggests that cleaning is an available or planned task.

FAQs

What does "needs to be cleaned" mean?

The phrase "needs to be cleaned" indicates that something is dirty or messy and requires cleaning or tidying up.

What can I say instead of "needs to be cleaned"?

You can use alternatives like "requires cleaning", "should be cleaned", or "must be cleaned" depending on the level of necessity you want to convey.

Is "needs to be cleaned" grammatically correct?

Yes, "needs to be cleaned" is grammatically correct. It uses the verb "need" in the third-person singular form followed by the passive infinitive "to be cleaned".

How to use "needs to be cleaned" in a sentence?

You can use "needs to be cleaned" in sentences like: "The car needs to be cleaned after the road trip", or "The data needs to be cleaned before analysis can begin".