sense of necessity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sense of necessity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a feeling or awareness that something is required or needed in a particular situation. Example: "In times of crisis, there is often a strong sense of necessity that drives people to take action."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Books

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Talent is rife here: what the evening lacks is a sense of necessity and inner propulsion.

The Guardian

A sense of necessity also informed Justice Powell's view of abortion.

The New York Times

What must surely drive all shades of the left is a sense of necessity.

The Guardian

And sometimes that actually benefits the energy and adrenaline and the sense of necessity that drove it.

The New York Times

This sense of necessity has driven many authors and publishers to embrace "little videos" in recent years.

The New Yorker

Frayn's drama is spare and hard-edged, even Greek in its sense of necessity driving on people who long to behave well to behave shamefully.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

As the editor said: "Give it a sense of personal necessity, a sense of urgency.

The New York Times - Books

The sense of frantic necessity becomes less pressing, and the hurry begins to settle into a smooth rhythm.

The New York Times

But if such a war is unwinnable, then perhaps you must reconsider your sense of its necessity and choose a more modest policy instead.

The New York Times

(Listen to the grim sense of regretful necessity that, in truth, we still use when speaking about the bombings of Hiroshima or Hamburg).

The New Yorker

Though Kandinsky's inventiveness never flagged, as a sideshow at the Guggenheim of his unquenchably lively drawings confirms, his sense of "inner necessity" (a key term in his theory of art) wandered.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sense of necessity" when you want to convey that something is not merely preferred but is actually required in a given situation. It's especially effective when describing motivations or driving forces behind actions.

Common error

Avoid using "sense of necessity" when you really mean "sense of urgency". The former implies a requirement, while the latter implies a time-sensitive need. For example, implementing a new policy might be driven by a sense of necessity, while responding to an emergency situation is driven by a sense of urgency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sense of necessity" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence, describing a state of mind or feeling regarding the essential nature of something. As Ludwig examples demonstrate, it modifies verbs and adjectives to indicate the driving force or motivation behind actions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Arts

12%

Less common in

Books

12%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sense of necessity" functions as a noun phrase used to convey that something is essential or required. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is commonly found in News & Media and Science, and maintains a neutral tone. When using this phrase, be mindful to differentiate it from "sense of urgency", which implies a time-sensitive need rather than a fundamental requirement. As the examples provided by Ludwig illustrate, "sense of necessity" effectively describes motivations and driving forces behind actions and decisions. Consider using alternatives like "compelling need" or "urgent requirement" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feeling of urgency

This alternative shifts the focus from requirement to immediacy and pressing need.

awareness of need

This alternative emphasizes the cognitive aspect of recognizing a requirement.

perception of urgency

Similar to 'feeling of urgency', but suggests a cognitive understanding rather than an emotional response.

compelling need

This alternative highlights the forcefulness and irresistibility of the need.

urgent requirement

This phrase combines the elements of both urgency and necessity.

feeling of obligation

This alternative brings in the element of duty and moral imperative.

imperative need

Emphasizes the critical and unavoidable nature of the need.

pressing demand

This alternative highlights the force with which the need presents itself.

crucial requirement

This highlights how indispensable a requirement is.

critical demand

This focuses on the importance and exigency of the demand.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "sense of necessity" in a sentence?

Use "sense of necessity" to describe a situation where something is deemed essential or indispensable. For instance, "The project was completed with a "sense of necessity", given the approaching deadline."

What's a good alternative to "sense of necessity" that still conveys a similar meaning?

Depending on the context, you might use phrases such as "urgent requirement", "compelling need", or "imperative need" to express a similar idea.

How does "sense of necessity" differ from "sense of urgency"?

"Sense of necessity" emphasizes the requirement or essential nature of something, while "sense of urgency" highlights the time-sensitive or pressing nature of something. Necessity focuses on what's required, while urgency focuses on the timing of the action.

Is it appropriate to use "sense of necessity" in formal writing?

Yes, "sense of necessity" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a clear and concise way to convey that something is essential or required. Its use is supported by various authoritative sources, as shown by Ludwig.