want

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "want" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a desire or wish for something. Example: "I want to travel the world and experience different cultures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I want to promote marriage, defend marriage, encourage marriage.

The Guardian

Ministers may want to sweep these events under the carpet, but the scars of the dispute and the subsequent closure programme remain on the memories, communities and landscapes of all coalfield communities.

The Guardian

"We the undersigned are sick and tired of ITV and Channel 5 giving her airtime and want her banned from all tv shows on your channels such as This Morning and The Wright Stuff.

The Guardian

We will want to determine that those responsible for operating this ride have done what the law requires.

The Guardian

PH: "I don't want to speak to you, you disgust me".

The Guardian

I don't want that but how else are fans going to learn not to go on the pitch?

The Guardian - Sport

"They gave me their word a year ago and now I want them to honour that.

The Guardian - Sport

"I want to bring our country together, our United Kingdom together, not least by implementing as fast as we can the devolution that we rightly promised and came together with other parties to agree both for Wales and for Scotland.

The Guardian

Others want to find things that support what they want the party to do in the future.

The Guardian

I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution.

The Guardian

I don't want it.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing a polite request, consider using "would like" instead of "want" to sound more courteous.

Common error

Avoid using "want" when "need" is more appropriate. "Need" implies a necessity, while "want" expresses a desire. Choose the word that accurately reflects the situation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "want" is as a verb, expressing a desire, wish, or need. As evidenced by Ludwig, it can also function as a noun to indicate a lack or deficiency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "want" is a versatile term primarily used as a verb to express desires, needs, or requirements. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and very common in everyday language. While generally neutral in tone, more formal alternatives like "desire" or "require" may be preferred in certain contexts. Remember to distinguish between "want" and "need", using "need" to indicate a necessity. Examples from The Guardian, The New York Times and The Economist highlight its widespread use in news and media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would like

Polite way of expressing a desire or preference.

desire

Formal synonym indicating a strong feeling of wanting something.

need

Implies a necessity or requirement.

require

Indicates something is necessary or essential.

wish for

Expresses a desire or hope for something to happen.

set one's heart on

To strongly desire something and be determined to get it.

have a desire for

Emphasizes the feeling of wanting something.

feel the need for

Highlights the sense of requiring something.

yearn for

Expresses a deep longing or desire.

crave

Indicates a strong and often urgent desire.

FAQs

How can I use "want" in a sentence?

You can use "want" to express a desire for something, like "I want to travel the world" or to indicate a need, such as "That chair wants fixing".

What's a more formal alternative to "want"?

For a more formal tone, you can use alternatives like "desire" or "would like".

Is it correct to say "I want that you do this"?

While understandable, it's more grammatically correct and common to say "I want you to do this". The structure "I want that you do this" is less frequent and can sound awkward.

What's the difference between "want" and "need"?

"Want" expresses a desire or wish, while "need" indicates a necessity or requirement. For example, you might "want" a new car, but you "need" transportation to work.