needs to be understood

USAGE SUMMARY

"needs to be understood" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you are expressing something that requires understanding from other people, such as a concept or idea. For example, "This particular issue needs to be understood from a variety of perspectives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It needs to be understood in context.

Independent

That's what needs to be understood.

The Guardian

Violence against women needs to be understood as a continuum.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's the premise that needs to be understood first.

The Guardian - Opinion

That is something that needs to be understood".

The Guardian

"Consequent risk to infrastructure needs to be understood and mitigated.

The Guardian

Like any story, mine needs to be understood in context.

Independent

Now this inspiration, I think, it needs to be understood in a theological — needs to be understood theologically.

Yale University

The bond behavior between GFRP rebar and concrete needs to be understood for such applications.

Construction and Building Materials

"But conflict prevention needs to be understood and practised by the military themselves.

The Guardian

The clinical relevance still needs to be understood in the medical community.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "needs to be understood", ensure the subject requiring understanding is clearly identified. This avoids ambiguity and ensures effective communication.

Common error

Avoid overusing "needs to be understood" in favor of more active and direct language. Passive voice can sometimes obscure responsibility or make the writing sound less engaging. For example, instead of saying "the data needs to be understood", consider "analysts must understand the data".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs to be understood" functions as a modal passive construction. It expresses the necessity of comprehension regarding a specific subject. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

33%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "needs to be understood" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that conveys the importance of comprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and academic writing. While versatile, it's important to be mindful of potential overuse and consider more active voice alternatives when appropriate. The phrase appears most often in "News & Media", "Science", and "Academia" sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

must be comprehended

Emphasizes the obligation to understand something.

should be clarified

Suggests that something would benefit from being explained more clearly.

requires comprehension

Focuses on the requirement of understanding something.

is essential to grasp

Highlights the importance of understanding something completely.

demands clarification

Highlights the need for something to be made clearer.

is imperative to realize

Focuses on the importance of recognizing or understanding something.

warrants investigation

Suggests a need for deeper examination to achieve understanding.

is vital to appreciate

Emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the value or understanding something.

calls for interpretation

Emphasizes the necessity of explaining the meaning.

begs for attention

Emphasizes the need for something to be examined or clarified.

FAQs

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

Use "needs to be understood" to indicate that something requires comprehension. For example: "The complexity of the issue "needs to be understood" before a solution can be proposed".

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

You can use alternatives like "requires comprehension", "should be clarified", or "must be comprehended" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "needs to be understood"?

While "needs to be understood" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can often make your writing more direct and engaging. Consider rephrasing to emphasize who needs to understand something.

What does it mean when something "needs to be understood" in a particular context?

It means that grasping the background, circumstances, or related factors is crucial for correctly interpreting or dealing with a situation. The context provides essential information for proper understanding.