to be necessary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be necessary" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something needs to be done in order for something else to occur. For example, "It is necessary to adhere to the rules in order to pass the course."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

"Wheels are going to be necessary".

The New Yorker

And we understand them to be necessary".

The Guardian

The dream had ceased to be necessary.

The Guardian - Books

But it doesn't have to be necessary.

The New York Times

"The documentation I find to be necessary.

The New York Times

Neither turned out to be necessary.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's understood by the police to be necessary".

The Guardian

Such radical measures turned out not to be necessary.

The New Yorker

No other rules are said to be necessary.

The New York Times

"I believe experience has shown them to be necessary.

The New York Times

It's only necessary if you want it to be necessary.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to be necessary" when indicating an action, condition, or element is required for a specific outcome or purpose. Ensure the context clearly establishes why the necessity exists.

Common error

Avoid overusing "to be necessary" in passive constructions where active voice would be more direct and impactful. For instance, instead of "The report was felt to be necessary by the committee", consider "The committee felt the report was necessary".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be necessary" primarily functions as a predicate adjective within an infinitive phrase. It describes a condition or action that is required or essential for a specific purpose or outcome. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to be necessary" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to convey the requirement or essential nature of an action, condition, or element. Predominantly found in neutral to formal registers across news, scientific, and business contexts, it serves to communicate that something is indispensable for a specific outcome. Ludwig AI affirms its proper usage through a wealth of examples. When aiming for direct and impactful communication, consider using active voice constructions or exploring alternatives like "to be required" or "to be essential".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be required

Indicates a formal obligation or need; it implies a rule or standard enforces the necessity.

to be essential

Emphasizes the fundamental importance of something, suggesting it is indispensable.

to be vital

Highlights the critical nature of something, often implying that its absence would have severe consequences.

to be indispensable

Stresses that something is absolutely necessary and impossible to do without.

to be crucial

Suggests that something is decisive or pivotal, often at a critical juncture.

to be obligatory

Indicates a legal or moral requirement, emphasizing a binding duty.

to be unavoidable

Implies that something cannot be prevented or escaped, suggesting a necessity imposed by circumstances.

to be imperative

Highlights the urgent and pressing nature of something, demanding immediate attention.

to be compulsory

Indicates that something is mandated by law or regulation, typically in formal settings.

to be paramount

Emphasizes the supreme importance or priority of something, placing it above all else.

FAQs

How can I use "to be necessary" in a sentence?

Use "to be necessary" to indicate something is required or essential. For example, "It is felt "to be necessary" to review the data before making a decision".

What are some alternatives to "to be necessary"?

You can use alternatives such as "to be required", "to be essential", or "to be vital" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "is necessary" or "to be necessary"?

The choice depends on the sentence structure. "Is necessary" is used when it directly follows the subject, while "to be necessary" is used in infinitive phrases or after auxiliary verbs. For example, "This step is necessary" versus "This step needs to be necessary".

What's the difference between "necessary" and "essential"?

"Necessary" indicates something is needed for a specific purpose or outcome, while "essential" implies something is fundamentally important or indispensable. Something essential is always necessary, but something necessary is not always essential.