precisely when needed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "precisely when needed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a specific timing or condition under which something is required or necessary. Example: "The software updates will be installed precisely when needed to ensure optimal performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Also, companies will engage in collaborative resource consumption, where privately owned but underused assets can be rented to others precisely when needed.

MIT Technology Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

She was living in Stroud Green, north London, at the time, and every morning would take the overland train from Harringay so she knew the times, knew exactly how long it took to reach the station, knew precisely when she needed to leave.

The Guardian

I regularly issued statements from No 10 as a "spokesman for Gordon Brown" on matters personal, and did so precisely when I needed a denial or clarification to carry extra weight, especially for the benefit of other media outlets considering whether to follow up the story.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's precisely when we need insurance most that we're least able to "fire" the insurance company.

The New York Times

We're in the midst of a Great Dereliction — a historic failure of leadership, precisely when we need it most.

Harvard Business Review

The principles were simple, even obvious — do away with waste, have parts arrive precisely when workers need them, fix problems as soon as they arise.

The New Yorker

Stock prices reflect not only the expected future cash flows of a firm but also the extent to which those cash flows serve as a kind of implicit insurance for investors, paying off precisely when they need money.

Columbia University

"They have to match the rhythm of that melody and to make that auditory motor match so they know precisely when they need to move to create the sound that will work in the music.

The New York Times - Tech

As Jeffrey Goldberg points out, moments such as this outbreak of "radical white terrorism" are precisely when we need our elected officials to speak out, forthrightly and with no equivocation.

The Washington Post

We stressed that "consigning such measures to 'last resort' status would reduce the available options precisely when countries need as many tools as possible to prevent and mitigate crises". By the runup to the Cannes meeting, most of the G20's apparatus was focused on the eurozone.

The Guardian - Opinion

I know myself, and if I saw him I'm not sure I would be able to stop myself from telling him in no uncertain terms exactly how I feel about the damage that he has inflicted on Britain, both economic and political, and about how he has impaired the chances of young people, while endangering the European project and European values precisely when we need them most.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "precisely when needed" to emphasize the importance of timing and necessity in a particular situation. It adds a layer of exactness and urgency to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "precisely when needed" too frequently in your writing. While it's a useful phrase, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms or rephrasing your sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "precisely when needed" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating the exact timing or condition under which an action is necessary. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase highlights specific timing. It is a relative clause that adds detail about when something is required.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "precisely when needed" is a relative clause that emphasizes the importance of specific timing, used to indicate the exact moment something is required. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While its usage spans various contexts, it's more commonly found in News & Media. To avoid repetition, consider alternatives like "exactly when required" or "at the precise moment necessary". Using this phrase effectively adds clarity and emphasis to your writing, highlighting the critical nature of timing in different scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exactly when it's required

Replaces "precisely" with "exactly" and uses "it's required" instead of "needed" for a slightly more formal tone.

at the precise moment necessary

Emphasizes the exactness of the timing and replaces "needed" with "necessary".

just when it becomes essential

Focuses on the essential nature of the need and replaces "precisely" with "just".

only when absolutely required

Highlights the absolute necessity of the timing and uses a more formal tone.

specifically when it is indispensable

Uses more formal vocabulary to emphasize the specific timing and indispensable nature.

right on time as necessary

Uses a more casual tone and emphasizes the timeliness of the action.

at the very instant required

Stresses the immediacy and necessity of the timing.

punctually when the need arises

Emphasizes the punctuality and the arising of the need.

at the exact point of necessity

Focuses on the exactness and the critical point of necessity.

only at the critical juncture

Uses more sophisticated vocabulary to indicate a critical point in time.

FAQs

How can I use "precisely when needed" in a sentence?

You can use "precisely when needed" to emphasize the specific timing of something. For example: "The backup system activates "precisely when needed", ensuring no data is lost."

What are some alternatives to "precisely when needed"?

Alternatives include "exactly when required", "at the precise moment necessary", or "just when it becomes essential".

Is "precisely when needed" formal or informal?

"Precisely when needed" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it leans towards a more neutral to slightly formal tone. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "precisely when needed" and "when needed"?

"Precisely when needed" emphasizes the exactness and critical timing, while "when needed" is a more general statement about timing. The former adds a sense of urgency and specificity.