they are needed

USAGE SUMMARY

"they are needed" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, but most commonly it is used to indicate that something or someone is required or necessary. Example: "In order to complete the project successfully, a team of experienced engineers would be needed." In this sentence, "they are needed" refers to the team of engineers who are necessary for the project's success.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Are the true 'stem' cells circulating and homing to tissues as they are needed?

Arthritis Research and Therapy

"They are needed".

Independent

For whom they are needed?

Revue Francophone d'Orthoptie

More players appear as they are needed.

The New Yorker

Mizuho's troubles suggest they are needed.

The Economist

But they are needed by many.

The New York Times

Parts arrive just as they are needed.

The Economist

They are needed in the same world.

The Guardian - Books

I know how much they are needed.

The Guardian

"We need to get people where they are needed and when they are needed".

The New York Times

They are needed to produce the system's performance attributes.

Competitive Engineering A Handbook for Systems Engineering Requirements Engineering, and Software Engineering Using Planguage

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they are needed" to clearly and directly state that something or someone is required. Consider the context to choose the most appropriate synonym for "needed" to convey the precise degree of necessity.

Common error

Ensure the subject of "they" is clear to avoid ambiguity. If the subject is not immediately obvious, rephrase the sentence to explicitly state what is needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they are needed" functions as a passive voice construction indicating requirement or necessity. It highlights that a group or items are required for a specific purpose. Ludwig provides examples across varied contexts, reinforcing its broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they are needed" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to express necessity. As Ludwig AI confirms, its meaning is clear and broadly applicable. Usage spans across various contexts, with notable prevalence in news, scientific, and academic domains. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the subject and consider using synonyms to add nuance, as well as rephrasing to add impact. Overall, "they are needed" is a reliable and effective way to communicate a requirement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they're necessary

Uses a contraction and the adjective "necessary" to convey the same idea.

they're required

Employs "required", indicating a formal need or obligation.

they're essential

Replaces "needed" with "essential", highlighting the fundamental importance.

they are indispensable

Uses a stronger term, "indispensable", to emphasize their critical role.

they are vital

Similar to essential, "vital" underscores the crucial importance.

their presence is required

Shifts the focus to their presence being a necessity.

they are a necessity

Changes the structure to emphasize that they themselves are a necessity.

these are crucial

Uses "crucial" as an adjective to describe importance.

these are important

Replaces "needed" with a more general adjective, "important".

we need them

Shifts the perspective to explicitly state who needs them.

FAQs

How can I use "they are needed" in a sentence?

The phrase "they are needed" indicates a requirement or necessity. For example, "If we want to finish the project on time, skilled programmers "they are needed"".

What are some alternatives to saying "they are needed"?

You can use alternatives such as "they are necessary", "they are required", or "they are essential", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "they need to be needed"?

While grammatically valid, "they need to be needed" can sound redundant or awkward. Consider rephrasing for clarity, such as "they must be necessary" or "there is a need for them".

What is the difference between "they are needed" and "they were needed"?

"They are needed" indicates a present or ongoing requirement, while "they were needed" indicates a past requirement. For example, "They are needed now to solve the problem" versus "They were needed yesterday, but the issue is now resolved".