needs to be picked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "needs to be picked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that requires selection or collection, often in contexts like tasks, items, or choices. Example: "The ripe apples in the orchard need to be picked before the rain comes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

"When you leave, if the lawn just needs to be picked up, fine — the cost is nearly zero.

The New York Times

Garnett, 36, is already prepping lunch, chopping strawberries and sprinkling them with sugar while working out what needs to be picked in the vegetable garden.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But for a parent whose son wants voice lessons on the Upper West Side at the exact moment her daughter needs to be picked up from tennis at Chelsea Piers, Uber just may make doubling up on those activities possible.

The New York Times

Images of the product that needs to be picked are displayed by our system and we use barcode scanners to ensure they pick the right item first time, every time.

The Guardian

And SeeClickFix, a start-up, has come up with a smartphone app that allows users to report such things as broken streetlights or rubbish that needs to be picked up.Too much of a good thingIt does not take much imagination to see that all these sensors will generate immense amounts of data.

The Economist

"The whole system needs to be picked up by the scruff of the neck and shaken," said Carey, who previously worked in publishing and higher education, became a kidney cancer patient in 2001 and has been a wheelchair user since 2011.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

So she needs to be picking up superdelegates, at the very least, at a seven-out-of-every-ten clip.

Huffington Post

The school secretary had called and said that Marco needed to be picked up immediately.

The New Yorker

That will mean some 30 billion cherries needing to be picked in the next ten years.

The Economist

Meanwhile a season passes, and the winter crops need to be picked again.

The New York Times

So many of us sitting in there under these draconian laws need to be picked".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "needs to be picked" in your writing, ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is responsible for the picking action to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "needs to be picked" is grammatically sound, avoid overusing it in highly formal documents. Opt for stronger, more direct verbs to convey a sense of authority and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs to be picked" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something is required to undergo the action of being picked or selected. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which demonstrate its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

8%

Academia

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "needs to be picked" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive construction indicating a requirement for something to be selected or collected. As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase appears frequently in news and media, as well as in Wiki contexts. While versatile, it's advisable to consider stronger, more direct verbs in highly formal writing to maintain authority. The phrase's function, purpose, and register make it a useful tool for expressing necessity across diverse communication scenarios. Furthermore, exploring alternatives like "requires selection" or "must be chosen" can enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

requires selection

Emphasizes the necessity of a choice or selection process.

must be chosen

Highlights the obligation to select something.

should be collected

Focuses on the action of gathering or collecting an item.

has to be retrieved

Stresses the necessity of recovering or fetching something.

is required to be selected

A more formal way of saying something needs selection.

demands attention

Shifts the focus to something needing immediate care or action.

necessitates picking

Highlights that picking is an unavoidable action.

calls for selection

Emphasizes the need for a particular choice.

warrants retrieval

Suggests that something justifies being retrieved.

is in need of collection

Focuses on the state of something requiring to be gathered.

FAQs

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

The phrase "needs to be picked" is used to indicate that something requires selection or collection. For example, "The fruit needs to be picked before it spoils."

What's a synonym for "needs to be picked"?

Alternatives to "needs to be picked" include "requires selection", "must be chosen", or "should be collected", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "needs to be picked"?

Yes, "needs to be picked" is grammatically correct. It's a passive construction indicating that an action (picking) is required for a particular subject.

What's the difference between "needs to be picked" and "has to be picked"?

While both phrases convey a sense of necessity, "has to be picked" is slightly stronger and more emphatic than "needs to be picked". The former suggests a more urgent or compulsory action.