require

USAGE SUMMARY

"require" is a perfectly acceptable word in written English.
It is used to describe a demand or need, often a necessity. For example, you might say "This job requires a high school diploma" to explain that applicants must have that educational qualification in order to be considered for the position.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That doesn't mean getting out of print, but it does require a greater focus of attention, imagination and resource on the various forms that digital future is likely to take".

The Guardian

"Can the government require you to buy a cell phone because that would facilitate responding when you need emergency services?

The Guardian

But when they were asked in secret ballots most players also said that the league should require them to wear helmets.

The Economist

Those affected are thought to have low levels of serotonin and melatonin, which means they require much more daylight.

The Guardian

For its part, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass) says that paying the UKHCA's £15.74 would cost an extra £342m a year in England, "which would require us to make very serious further cuts in parts of the adult social care service".

The Guardian

The urgent challenges require wise and long-term solutions.

The Guardian

The most effective NHS boards are now planning for the number of leaders they will need in each area ; the qualities they will require of these leaders ; planning to ensure that diverse groups are properly attracted and appointed to leadership positions at every level; and attracting strong fields of candidates from clinical backgrounds;.

The Guardian

Some may ask for rent in advance while others will require a lump sum of money to be returned providing the house is well kept Read it back-to-front and get your university's student advice service or student union to check it over.

The Guardian

It sounds like this woman of yours could do with an excess of attention on her for a change and that may require you to step up from your previous passive role.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

From next week, the government will require six out of the eight crossbenchers to pass any legislation which Labor and the Greens oppose.

The Guardian

Even in the less illustrious London borough of Southwark, home to the Heygate estate, the rent for a two-bedroom flat would require an income of almost £44,000.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "require", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being demanded or needed. Specify the subject performing the action and the object being required for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "require" without specifying what or who is doing the requiring. For example, instead of "This requires attention", write "This problem requires immediate attention from the engineering team".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "require" is a transitive verb, indicating that it takes a direct object. Ludwig examples show it is used to express the need for something, demanding an action, or stating a necessary condition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "require" is a versatile verb used to express necessity or demand. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. It's frequently found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts. To ensure clarity, specify the subject and object of the requirement. Alternatives such as "be necessary" or "call for" can add nuance. Be sure to avoid vagueness by specifying what is being required and from whom.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be necessary

Emphasizes necessity but uses a passive construction.

call for

Suggests a demand or need, often implying urgency.

necessitate

Highlights that something makes something else unavoidable.

demand

Indicates a firm request or insistence.

entail

Focuses on the consequential aspect of needing something.

stipulate

Highlights the formal setting of a demand or condition.

make it mandatory

Emphasizes obligation and compliance.

is essential

Highlights the importance of something being needed.

deem necessary

Suggests a judgment about something being needed.

be indispensable

Emphasizes the crucial nature of a requirement.

FAQs

How to use "require" in a sentence?

You can use "require" to indicate something is necessary or demanded, such as "This task will "require careful planning"" or "The regulations "require all employees to attend"".

What can I say instead of "require"?

You can use alternatives like "be necessary", "call for", or "demand" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "require to do" or "require doing"?

The correct form is "require to do". For example, "The contract will "require you to sign" a waiver". "Require doing" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "require" and "request"?

"Require" implies a necessity or obligation, while "request" is a polite way of asking for something. If something is required, it must be done, whereas a request is optional.