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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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needs to be installed

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "needs to be installed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to refer to something that needs to be set up or put into place in order to work correctly. For example, "This new software needs to be installed before it can be used."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Google Play is the application store from where you can download all the available applications for the Android platform; even the updated version of the installed applications needs to be installed from Google Play.

There are several online resources for learning R. Shiny is a package for R developed by RStudio, and needs to be installed in a given R installation.

When you consider the fact that Flash needs to be installed (as opposed to HTML5, which requires no installation), it's easy to see why in the long term, it didn't stand a chance.

News & Media

TechCrunch

SQLite needs to be installed.

To compile the source code, gsl needs to be installed.

PingER makes use of carefully selected existing hosts and software only needs to be installed at the monitor hosts.

For example, a particular processor-based subsystem needs to be installed only if a particular option is installed.

However, OpenSSL needs to be installed to use HTTPS with Ohio State University DECthreads HTTP Server (OSU).

If a better, or greener, heat-generating technology comes along it only needs to be installed in the central heating station.

News & Media

The Economist

(An interrupter usually needs to be installed when an outlet is near or exposed to water; it generally costs less than $10).

News & Media

The New York Times

Everything else needs to be installed from the Sony SmartConnect app, which handles the management of the smartwatch and is available for free in the Google Play store.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing instructions, use "needs to be installed" to clearly indicate mandatory setup steps for software or hardware components.

Common error

While "needs to be installed" is grammatically sound, overuse can make writing seem passive. Consider rephrasing for active voice, such as "you must install" to enhance clarity and directness.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs to be installed" functions as a passive verb phrase indicating that something requires installation for proper operation. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Examples show it applies to software, hardware, and various systems.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

13%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "needs to be installed" is a grammatically correct and common passive verb phrase used to indicate that something requires installation before it can function correctly. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. It appears frequently in science, news, and academic contexts. When using the phrase, consider if an active voice construction might be clearer. While acceptable in various contexts, ensuring the tone matches the audience is essential. Related phrases include "must be set up" and "requires installation", which offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality.

FAQs

How do I use "needs to be installed" in a sentence?

Use "needs to be installed" to indicate a requirement for setting up software or hardware. For example, "The new driver "needs to be installed" before you can use the printer."

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

You can use alternatives like "must be set up", "requires installation", or "is required to be set up" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "needs to be installed" or "needs installation"?

"Needs to be installed" is a passive construction indicating a requirement for setup. "Needs installation" is a shorter, less formal version. Both are acceptable, but ""needs to be installed"" is generally preferred in formal writing.

What's the difference between "should be installed" and "needs to be installed"?

"Needs to be installed" indicates a necessity, whereas "should be installed" suggests a recommendation. Use "needs" when something is mandatory for proper functioning, and "should" when it's beneficial but not strictly required.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: