soft requirement

USAGE SUMMARY

"soft requirement" is a valid phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to a requirement that is not strictly enforced, or that is difficult to meet. For example: "The soft requirement for the job is a minimum of two years of relevant experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

If a nonfunctional property is "a soft" requirement it may be ignored.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Nobody gets fired for making something merely meet the hard requirements, even if it fails the "soft" requirement of "not sucking".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Because the repertoire of obligatory executive skills has grown in scope, some said, both hard and soft requirements have expanded accordingly.

Harvard Business Review

High school timetabling consists in assigning meetings between classes and teachers, with the goal of minimizing the violation of specific soft requirements.

European Journal of Operational Research

'Soft requirements,' which have emerged in architecture and urban design, need to crossover to the urban underground infrastructure (as an element of urban underground space) in order to meet the expectations of public transport users.

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

In the majority of middle income countries (MIC), public employment services (PES) are pivotal for the implementation of soft requirements.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

The previous factors are actually soft requirements that have been used for the selection, and some of the schools that finally participated may not have all the desired characteristics.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Internationalization competency represents one of the first attempts to structure and describe the soft competence requirements for global software developers.

Journal of Systems and Software

In addition, companies must start meeting "soft" law requirements, such as the revised OECD guidelines on multinational enterprises and the UN guiding principles on business and human rights adopted in May and June 2011 respectively.

The Guardian

The Treasury said this would include reducing wasteful energy consumption, mothballing surplus building space, and reviewing soft service requirements, "so that the public sector does not buy more than it needs when specifying facilities management such as window cleaning and frequency of decoration".

The Guardian

The colors, the reds in particular, now have a lacquered hardness that gives the film a cartoonish feel, closer to a Frank Tashlin farce like "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" (1957) than the soft-focus requirements of a romantic comedy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "soft requirement", clarify the degree of flexibility. Clearly state what happens if the requirement isn't met. Is it simply a preference, or does failing to meet it have specific consequences?

Common error

Avoid presenting a "soft requirement" as if it were a hard one. This can lead to confusion and unmet expectations. Use language that accurately reflects its level of importance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "soft requirement" functions as a noun phrase, where "soft" modifies the noun "requirement". It describes the nature of the requirement, indicating its flexibility or non-essential characteristic. As Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "soft requirement" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a condition that is desired but not strictly mandatory. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is valid. It appears most frequently in scientific, news, and formal business contexts, signaling a professional register. When using this phrase, clarity is key: clearly define the level of flexibility and the implications of not meeting the "soft requirement". Alternatives such as ""preferred qualification"" or ""desirable attribute"" may be suitable depending on the specific context you intend to use the phrase in.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flexible requirement

Emphasizes the adaptability and modifiability of the requirement.

non-essential requirement

Highlights that the requirement is not absolutely necessary.

non-critical requirement

Highlights that the requirement is not essential for success.

desirable attribute

Shifts the focus from a mandatory aspect to a preferred quality.

secondary requirement

Highlights that the requirement is of lesser importance.

preferred qualification

Used often in job descriptions, indicating a qualification that improves candidacy but isn't mandatory.

optional specification

Indicates that the specification is not mandatory.

guideline

Replaces a strict 'requirement' with a suggestion for a direction or method.

recommendation

Suggests a course of action, differing from a mandatory need.

suggested practice

Focuses on a recommended way of doing things rather than a mandatory rule.

FAQs

How to use "soft requirement" in a sentence?

You can use "soft requirement" to describe a criterion that is desirable but not strictly necessary. For example, "Experience with project management is a "soft requirement" for this position, but not essential".

What's the difference between "soft requirement" and "hard requirement"?

A "hard requirement" is mandatory and must be met, whereas a "soft requirement" is desirable but not essential. Failing to meet a hard requirement typically results in disqualification, while not meeting a soft requirement might simply make a candidate less competitive.

What can I say instead of "soft requirement"?

You can use alternatives like "preferred qualification", "desirable attribute", or "flexible requirement" depending on the context.

Is "soft requirement" a common phrase?

While grammatically correct and understandable, "soft requirement" is not as common as other similar phrases like "preferred skill" or "desired experience". Its frequency is relatively low.