what is needed

USAGE SUMMARY

"what is needed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate something that is required or essential in a given situation. For example, "We need to identify what is needed to solve this problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What is needed politically?

The New York Times

"What is needed here..

Cornell University

What is needed is leadership.

Independent

So what is needed?

The Guardian

Education is what is needed".

The Guardian - Tech

No. What is needed is openness.

The New Yorker

What is needed is a teraflop machine.

The New Yorker

What is needed for Italy?

The Guardian - Business

Certainty is what is needed.

The Guardian

What is needed is a national overhaul.

The Economist

What is needed is transparency.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what is needed" to clearly and concisely state the requirements for a task, project, or situation. This avoids ambiguity and ensures everyone understands the necessities.

Common error

Avoid using "what is needed" excessively in passive constructions. Instead, try to rephrase the sentence to highlight who or what is performing the action to make the writing more direct and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what is needed" functions as a noun clause, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a requirement or necessity. Ludwig AI shows this phrase is commonly used to express essential conditions or actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

15%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what is needed" is a versatile noun clause used to express requirements or necessities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears across various contexts including News & Media, Academia and Science. When writing, consider alternatives like "what is required" or "what is necessary" for greater formality. While highly versatile, avoid overuse in passive constructions to maintain a clear and direct writing style. The sources available in Ludwig highlight the broad applicability and consistent usage of this phrase across diverse fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what is required

Emphasizes a formal requirement or obligation.

what is necessary

Highlights indispensability for a specific outcome.

the essential thing

Focuses on the most important aspect or element.

the key requirement

Stresses the crucial aspect for achieving a goal.

what must be done

Highlights actions that are obligatory or unavoidable.

the urgent need

Emphasizes the immediate importance of something.

the main priority

Focuses on the most important task or goal.

the indispensable element

Highlights a component that cannot be omitted.

the crucial factor

Stresses a factor that has a significant impact.

the only solution

Suggests there is just one possible answer or path to take.

FAQs

How can I use "what is needed" in a sentence?

You can use "what is needed" to introduce a requirement or necessity. For example, "What is needed is a clear plan of action" or "To succeed, what is needed is dedication and hard work."

What are some alternatives to saying "what is needed"?

Alternatives include "what is required", "what is necessary", or "the essential thing", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "what is needed" or "what is necessary"?

Both "what is needed" and "what is necessary" are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. "What is necessary" may imply a higher degree of importance or urgency, while "what is needed" is generally more common.

How does "what is needed" differ from "what is desired"?

"What is needed" refers to something essential or required, while "what is desired" refers to something that is wished for but not necessarily essential. They address requirement versus preference, respectively.