serious need

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serious need" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize a significant or urgent requirement for something. Example: "The community is facing a serious need for affordable housing options."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Flags" is in serious need of both.

The New York Times

Because Westeros is in serious need of more bards, obviously.

Independent

Composing "is a very serious need," Ms. Higdon said.

The New York Times - Arts

He looked in serious need of a cuddle.

The Guardian - Sport

This is a man in serious need of some interns.

The Guardian

What turned the tide in the end, though, was a serious need for political damage control.

The New York Times

The only problem was that the century-old house was in serious need of repairs.

The New York Times

"We have a group of students in serious need of intervention," she said.

The New York Times

But 2010 was a year in serious need of a tune-up.

The New Yorker

An OCHA assessment is that 373,000 children are in serious need of physco-social support.

Independent

"There is a serious need for dialogue before there is another assassination".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "serious need" with a prepositional phrase or a "that" clause that specifies the object of the need. For example, "a serious need for reform" or "a serious need that the problem is addressed".

Common error

Avoid using "serious need" as a generic intensifier. Instead, ensure the situation genuinely warrants such strong language. Overusing it can diminish its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serious need" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "serious" modifies the noun "need", emphasizing the importance or urgency of a requirement. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in various written contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "serious need" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to emphasize the urgency or importance of a requirement. As validated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is applicable across various contexts, with a notable presence in news, media, and scientific domains. While "serious need" is versatile, it's important to consider alternative expressions such as "urgent requirement" or "pressing need" to provide nuanced emphasis. When employing "serious need", ensure that the context clearly warrants the intensity conveyed by the phrase to maintain credibility and impact. The usage patterns indicate that "serious need" is more common in formal and professional settings than in informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pressing need

Replaces "serious" with "pressing", indicating urgency.

urgent requirement

Substitutes both words to emphasize immediacy and necessity.

dire necessity

Uses "dire" and "necessity" to heighten the sense of critical importance.

critical demand

Emphasizes the importance of the requirement using "critical".

vital necessity

Highlights that something is essential and indispensable.

compelling requirement

Indicates that the need is forceful and demands attention.

acute demand

Signifies a need that is sharply felt or intensely required.

crying need

Implies an obvious and urgent need that cannot be ignored.

grave necessity

Uses "grave" to underscore the serious implications of the need.

paramount requirement

Indicates that the requirement is of the highest importance.

FAQs

How can I use "serious need" in a sentence?

You can use "serious need" to emphasize the urgency or importance of something. For example, "There is a "serious need" for affordable housing in the city."

What can I say instead of "serious need"?

You can use alternatives like "pressing need", "urgent requirement", or "dire necessity" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "serious need"?

Use "serious need" when you want to highlight the critical nature of a requirement or situation. It is appropriate when the lack of something has significant negative consequences.

Is "serious need" formal or informal language?

"Serious need" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it's more commonly found in news, academic, and professional writing. The level of formality depends on the surrounding language and the specific situation.