needs to be filed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'needs to be filed' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to documents or paperwork that needs to be organized in a filing cabinet in an office. For example, "All of the employee documents from last quarter need to be filed away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

A written report only needs to be filed within 24 hours.

The Guardian

In the case of a stolen card, a report needs to be filed.

Johns Hopkins University

To ensure the tax refund gets credited as a 2006 IRA contribution, the tax return needs to be filed early.

Forbes

Your goal is to close out the digital footprint of the deceased individual. 5. Final Tax Return: Once a person is deceased, a final tax return needs to be filed.

Forbes

Such a challenge needs to be filed no later than seven days after the vote totals are certified.

Huffington Post

Hurst's solution is to get every message to the right place as quickly as possible: Reply to emails that take less than two minutes to answer, file or archive what needs to be filed, put action items on a to-do list and put calendar items on your calendar.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Daily articles needed to be filed.

The New York Times

Still, this person added, the financial statements need to be filed quickly as a practical matter.

The New York Times

No tax is payable there and no returns or annual accounts need to be filed.

The Guardian

The bill does not specify what documents would need to be filed.

The New York Times

For one thing, they need to be filed in every state in which the wells are found.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context to determine if a more active voice is appropriate. For instance, instead of "The report needs to be filed", you might say "You must submit the report" if you want to emphasize responsibility.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive constructions like "needs to be filed" in contexts where a more direct, active voice would be clearer and more impactful. For example, prefer "Submit the form" over "The form needs to be filed."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs to be filed" functions as a passive construction indicating a requirement or necessity for a document or information to be formally recorded or stored. As Ludwig AI suggests, this is often used in administrative or legal contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Wiki

33%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "needs to be filed" is a grammatically sound and relatively common phrase used to indicate the requirement of formally recording or storing information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is versatile across various contexts like legal documents, tax returns, or incident reports. While generally neutral to formal, considering a more direct active voice might improve clarity. Frequency analysis indicates it's prevalent in news, wiki, and academic sources. For alternatives, consider "must be submitted" or "should be registered" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Remember to specify clearly what "needs to be filed" to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

must be submitted

Emphasizes obligation; focuses on the act of submission rather than the filing system.

should be registered

Implies a formal recording, often with an official body.

has to be lodged

Suggests formal placement or depositing of documents, perhaps in a legal context.

requires submission

Highlights the necessity of submitting something.

is required to be submitted

More formal phrasing of the requirement of submission.

demands to be recorded

Stresses the urgency and importance of recording the information.

is to be documented

Focuses on documenting the information for record-keeping.

call for filing

Expresses that something warrants filing due to its nature or purpose.

is subject to filing

Indicates that certain items or events must undergo the filing process.

warrants to be archived

Implies that the item should be placed in a long-term storage or archiving system.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "needs to be filed" for a more active voice?

Consider using phrases like "must be submitted", "should be registered", or "requires submission" to shift the focus to the action and the actor. For example, instead of saying "The document needs to be filed", you could say "You "must submit" the document".

What are some contexts where "needs to be filed" is commonly used?

"Needs to be filed" is frequently used in legal, administrative, and organizational settings when referring to reports, documents, or applications. Examples include accident reports, tax returns, and complaints with the Better Business Bureau.

Is there a difference between "needs to be filed" and "needs to be submitted"?

While similar, "needs to be filed" often implies organizing and storing a document in a systematic way, while "needs to be submitted" focuses on the act of sending or presenting the document to a specific authority or recipient. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the organization or the delivery of the document.

Can "needs to be filed" be used in informal writing?

Yes, although it is more common in formal and professional contexts. In informal writing, you might opt for a simpler phrase like "has to be kept" or "should be saved", depending on the intended meaning.