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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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update if need

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "update if need" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "update if needed." You can use it when instructing someone to make updates only when necessary. Example: "Please review the document and update if needed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

We'll update if need be, if/when Google confirms.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Secondly, you can look at the underlying data and even update if need be, and finally you can create a customized view without help from IT. "The way we think about it is that every action should be an informed action.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

If they are already registered, their information gets updated if needed.

News & Media

Huffington Post

This would allow them to be revised or updated if needed".

This table was updated for missing data, and outdated sodium levels were re-evaluated and updated if needed.

5 18 p.m. | Updated If you need proof that New York City is serious about parking tickets, talk to Joseph Arthur, the singer-songwriter and painter.

News & Media

The New York Times

The system also automatically checks for new releases of the source databases every three months and performs an update if needed.

Update if needed.

Before running Windows Update, install the WPA update (if needed), and the drivers you downloaded before installing Windows XP.

Amazon says the Alexa integration will be available in the latest version of the Amazon Music app for iOS or Android, which means you'll need to update if you have an older version of the app installed.

News & Media

TechCrunch

To add another account, make sure you have the latest version of the Twitter app and update it if needed.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to make updates only when necessary, use the correct phrase "update if needed".

Common error

Do not use the phrase "update if need". The grammatically correct alternative is "update if needed".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

79%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "update if need" is an incorrect imperative phrase intended to instruct someone to perform an update only when it is required. Ludwig AI identifies the grammatically correct form as "update if needed".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Wiki

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "update if need" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "update if needed". While "update if need" appears in some sources, it's essential to use the grammatically correct version for clear and professional communication. As Ludwig AI points out, the incorrect phrase is a grammatical error. Therefore, consider alternatives like "update if necessary" for better clarity and correctness. The primary goal of the phrase is to provide conditional instruction, so ensure the message is conveyed accurately by using proper grammar.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "update if need"?

The correct phrase is "update if needed". The word "needed" is the past participle of the verb "need" and functions as an adjective in this context.

Is "update if need" grammatically correct?

No, "update if need" is not grammatically correct. The correct and commonly used phrase is "update if needed".

What can I say instead of "update if need"?

You can use alternatives like "update if necessary" or "revise if required" to convey the same meaning.

What's the difference between "update if need" and "update if needed"?

"Update if need" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "update if needed". Using "needed" ensures the sentence is grammatically sound.

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Source & Trust

79%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: