what was required

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what was required" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the necessary actions, conditions, or items that were needed in a particular situation. Example: "The team completed the project successfully, meeting all the deadlines and fulfilling what was required by the client."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He knew what was required.

Independent

Brown knew exactly what was required.

Independent

Task – what was required of you.

The Guardian

What was required was steady stewardship.

The Guardian - Sport

What was required was strong controls.

The Guardian

What was required was improvement now.

The Guardian

But it fell far short of what was required.

The Economist

But perhaps a bust is what was required.

The Economist

I wouldn't be putting myself forward unless I was serious about exactly what was required".

The New York Times

I had a prodigious short-term memory, and that worked quite well for what was required.

The New Yorker

What was required was an overhaul of our ideas about gender.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "what was required", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what established the requirements. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "what was required" without a clear reference to who or what set the requirements. This can confuse the reader and make the sentence vague.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what was required" functions as a nominal relative clause, acting as a noun phrase within a sentence. It refers to the thing or things that were necessary or demanded in a particular situation. Ludwig AI shows it's commonly used to denote obligations or prerequisites.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "what was required" is a versatile nominal relative clause that identifies necessary actions, conditions, or items. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and very common, predominantly appearing in news, science, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, clarity is paramount; ensure the antecedent is clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases such as "what was needed" or "the essential criteria" can be used for variety. Proper usage enhances communication by precisely specifying obligations and prerequisites.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the mandatory steps

Specifically refers to steps that must be taken.

the essential criteria

Emphasizes the standards that must be met.

the vital components

Highlights the indispensable aspects that must be met.

the prerequisites

Emphasizes conditions that must be satisfied beforehand.

the necessities

Focuses on essential items, not necessarily actions or conditions.

the needed elements

Highlights the components that are indispensable.

the obligations

Shifts the focus to compulsory duties or commitments.

the stipulated conditions

Highlights conditions that have been clearly specified or demanded.

the expectations

Highlights what is anticipated or foreseen as necessary.

the demands

Focuses on what is forcefully claimed or expected.

FAQs

How can I use "what was required" in a sentence?

Use "what was required" to refer to the necessary actions, conditions, or items in a specific situation. For example, "He knew "what was required" to complete the task successfully".

What's a formal alternative to "what was required"?

In formal contexts, you might use "the stipulations", "the prerequisites", or "the essential criteria" instead of "what was required".

Is there a difference between "what was needed" and "what was required"?

While similar, "what was needed" emphasizes necessity, while "what was required" emphasizes obligation or a set standard. They are often interchangeable, but "what was required" suggests a more formal or official demand.

What can I say instead of "what was required"?

You can use alternatives like "what was necessary", "what was needed", or "the essential criteria" depending on the context.