total need

USAGE SUMMARY

"total need" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to indicate the full extent of something that is necessary. For example, "We identified the total need for additional funding."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

"There are no funds — we have total need," he said.

The New Yorker

Meeting the total need for contraception would cost double current spending – $8.1bn, says the report.

The Guardian

Students whose total need is less than this amount will normally receive only loan assistance.

Yale University

All that is missing is a stuffed dummy of the cadaverous figure himself, staring into the abyss of "total need", Burroughs's term for heroin addiction.

The Guardian - Books

We allocate our grant resources to students with the greatest financial need and use a formula which increases the proportion of grant as total need increases.

Yale University

Even if imports represent only 5 or 10percentt of China's total need, they say, the buying would probably push world prices higher.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

The total needed for this step is $10.9 million, she said.

The New York Times

But if he falls short of the delegate total needed, he added, "anything could happen".

The Guardian

But some estimates put the state's total needs at $10 billion, said Frank Belluscio, a spokesman for the New Jersey School Boards Association.

The New York Times

That is close to 40 percent of the total needed to secure the nomination when Republicans gather in Tampa, Fla., this summer.

The New York Times

By comparison, France, with the second highest total, needs to auction $243 billion of new debt, according to estimates by Nomura.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing resource allocation, use "total need" to clearly define the complete scope of requirements, ensuring that all aspects are considered in planning and distribution.

Common error

Avoid basing plans solely on perceived needs. Accurately assessing the "total need" requires thorough analysis and data collection to avoid underestimation or misallocation of resources.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "total need" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes the comprehensive quantity or extent of something required or lacking, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Academia

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "total need" is a versatile noun phrase that signifies the complete extent of a requirement or deficiency. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and suitable for various writing contexts. While commonly found in scientific and news-related sources, "total need" is also applicable in formal business settings. When using this phrase, ensure you accurately assess and quantify the complete scope of requirements to avoid misallocation or underestimation. Remember to differentiate between "total need" and related concepts like "perceived need" or "unmet need" for clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overall requirement

Replaces "need" with "requirement" and emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the necessity.

full requirement

Similar to "overall requirement" but with a slightly different emphasis on the completeness of the need.

complete necessity

Substitutes "need" with "necessity" and "total" with "complete", highlighting the indispensable aspect.

absolute necessity

Emphasizes the critical and unavoidable nature of the need using "absolute".

entire demand

Uses "demand" instead of "need", framing it as a request or claim, and "entire" for comprehensiveness.

aggregate demand

Focuses on the combined or collective aspect of the demand, suitable in economic contexts.

comprehensive demand

Highlights the broad scope of the demand, covering all aspects or areas.

overall deficit

Shifts the focus to a lack or shortfall, useful when discussing resources or funding.

complete shortfall

Indicates a deficiency or inadequacy, using "shortfall" to denote the gap between what is required and what is available.

aggregate necessity

Presents the need as a collective or cumulative requirement, applicable in situations involving multiple factors.

FAQs

How is "total need" used in a sentence?

The phrase "total need" typically quantifies the entire requirement or deficiency in a given situation. For instance, "We must assess the "total need" for medical supplies before distributing them".

What are some alternatives to saying "total need"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "overall requirement", "complete necessity", or "entire demand".

Is it better to say "total need" or "overall need"?

"Total need" and "overall need" are often interchangeable, but "total need" may imply a more precise calculation of the entire requirement, while "overall need" suggests a general assessment of the requirement.

What is the difference between "total need" and "unmet need"?

"Total need" refers to the complete scope of requirements, while "unmet need" refers specifically to the portion of the total need that has not been satisfied or addressed.