update if needed

USAGE SUMMARY

"update if needed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used to indicate that something should be done if necessary. For example: Please review the data and update if needed before submitting it.

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

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

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

Update if needed.

WikiHow

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

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

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

Huffington Post

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

Health Research Policy and Systems

This table was updated for missing data, and outdated sodium levels were re-evaluated and updated if needed.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

The hope of the UNMC is that once the UNMC's new on-site verification process (during which individual nurses and midwives review a print-out of their record from the UNMC database and recommend updates if needed) becomes routine, the number of errors in the database will decrease over time.

Human Resources for Health

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

The New York Times

Update them if needed.

WikiHow

A Kindle owner can check the software version number on the e-reader and compare it with what is available for download from Amazon's Kindle Software page -- and then update the device, if needed.

The New York Times

We have reached out for comments and will update this article if needed.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone, be specific about what requires updating and under what conditions. For example: 'Review the financial report and "update if needed" with the latest sales figures.'

Common error

Avoid using "update if needed" as a generic instruction without specifying what needs to be updated and when. Always provide clear guidelines or conditions to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "update if needed" functions as a conditional instruction, indicating that an action (updating) should be performed only if certain conditions are met. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "update if needed" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that serves as a conditional instruction. As Ludwig AI explains, it conveys that something should be updated only when necessary. It finds usage across various contexts, including Wiki articles, science publications and news media. For best practice, specify what requires updating to prevent ambiguity. Consider alternatives such as "revise if necessary" or "adjust if required" based on the context to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

revise if necessary

Emphasizes revision as the action, maintaining the conditional aspect.

adjust if required

Uses "adjust" to suggest a slight change, similar to updating.

modify if needed

Replaces "update" with "modify", indicating a change to improve something.

correct if necessary

Focuses on correcting errors rather than general updates.

amend if required

Suggests making formal changes, akin to updating official documents.

change if needed

More generic than "update", simply suggesting alteration.

refresh if required

Implies a renewal or revitalization, similar to updating software.

upgrade if necessary

Specifically suggests improving to a better version.

check for updates if required

More explicit, directs to verify the existence of updates first.

review and update as necessary

Adds an initial review step before the potential update.

FAQs

How do I use "update if needed" in a sentence?

Use "update if needed" to indicate that a task should be performed only when changes or new information are available. For example, "Please review the document and "update if needed" with the latest data".

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

You can use alternatives like "revise if necessary", "adjust if required", or "modify if needed" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "update if necessary"?

While "necessary" and "needed" are similar, "update if necessary" is a commonly used and accepted variant that emphasizes the conditional nature of the update.

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

"Check and update" implies a mandatory review process, while ""update if needed"" suggests that you only take action if an update is actually required after a check has occurred.