vital necessities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vital necessities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize essential needs or requirements that are crucial for survival or functioning. Example: "Access to clean water and food are vital necessities for maintaining good health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

There are certain vital necessities -- prescriptions, drugs, dentists, doctors.

The New York Times

Demolishing the camp has not caused refugees to stop striving for a better life, and nor will banning volunteers from providing them with vital necessities.

The Guardian - Opinion

Small and constricted, a place where the vital necessities, sacred and profane, were within walking range of all and where one's conduct was exposed to constant public watch, the New England village was the prime mover of communal life.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At the crux of the shift, according to these reports, which include news agency interviews with diplomats, is the abolition of the rationing system, under which North Koreans were told how much food and other vital necessities they would receive from government stores.

The New York Times

I produced many hundreds of plays, [and] the experience gathered in this way is very helpful, for it has given me…one of the most vital necessities for producing good motion pictures, the knowledge and the value of a dramatic situation and its proper staging" (374).

Columbia University

Changes to child benefit payments will leave many parents cutting back on vital necessities, a campaign warns.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

It is a vital necessity of our existence".

The New Yorker

Quick inspection methods for counterfeit drugs are of vital necessity.

Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems

When dystopia is not dystopian anymore utopia becomes, more than ever, a vital necessity.

The Guardian - Books

It is guided by need, whether for shelter, reproduction, food, safety or other vital necessity.

The New York Times

In principle, Congress's oversight of the executive branch can be a vital necessity.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "vital necessities" when you want to emphasize the critical importance of basic needs such as food, water, shelter, or medical care.

Common error

Avoid using "vital necessities" for things that are merely convenient or desirable. Reserve it for situations where the need is truly crucial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vital necessities" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It emphasizes the critical importance of the items or services being referred to. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it identifies essential requirements for survival or well-being.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "vital necessities" is a grammatically sound and relatively uncommon noun phrase used to highlight the critical importance of basic needs. As confirmed by Ludwig, its primary function is to emphasize the life-sustaining nature of certain goods or services. Commonly found in news, academic, and scientific contexts, the phrase underscores the urgency of providing or protecting essential requirements like food, water, and medical care. While generally appropriate for neutral to formal registers, it is important to reserve this phrase for situations where the needs are truly crucial, avoiding overuse in less critical contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

essential needs

Focuses on the fundamental requirements for survival or proper functioning, similar to "vital necessities" but more concise.

critical requirements

Highlights the urgency and importance of the requirements, akin to "vital necessities" in emphasizing their crucial nature.

basic essentials

Emphasizes the fundamental and indispensable nature of the items or services needed.

indispensable items

Stresses that these items are absolutely necessary and cannot be done without.

fundamental prerequisites

Highlights the foundational aspect of these requirements, suggesting they are necessary before anything else can be achieved.

key provisions

Focuses on the act of providing what is essential, often used in the context of humanitarian aid or social welfare.

necessary supplies

Emphasizes the tangible items needed for a particular purpose or survival.

essential resources

Highlights the availability and management of resources that are vital for a system or individual.

basic commodities

Focuses on the essential goods and services required for everyday life, often in the context of economics or trade.

life support

Emphasizes what is needed to sustain life.

FAQs

How can I use "vital necessities" in a sentence?

You can use "vital necessities" to describe items or services that are essential for survival or well-being. For example, "Access to clean water and food are "vital necessities" for refugees".

What are some synonyms for "vital necessities"?

Alternatives to "vital necessities" include "essential needs", "critical requirements", or "basic essentials". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "vital necessities"? Isn't everything necessary vital?

While "necessities" often implies importance, adding "vital" emphasizes the critical, life-sustaining nature of those necessities. It adds an extra layer of importance, making the phrase suitable for contexts where the needs are particularly urgent.

Are "vital necessities" and "basic human rights" interchangeable?

While related, they aren't fully interchangeable. "Basic human rights" is a broader term encompassing moral principles, whereas "vital necessities" refers to the concrete goods and services required to sustain life, like food and shelter.