what would be needed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what would be needed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing requirements or necessities for a particular situation or task. Example: "To complete the project successfully, we need to identify what would be needed in terms of resources and manpower."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They then assert that these examples tell us what would be needed to expand overall employment.

The New York Times

Dr. Anderson listed what would be needed: "It has to be nearly invisible.

The New York Times - Health

"What would be needed to start something would be a Syrian green light".

The New York Times

The bill legalizing ferret ownership received 26 votes, eight short of what would be needed for an override.

The New York Times

Currently, he said, the department relied largely on existing job openings to gauge what would be needed.

The New York Times

More time was taken determining what aid was already on its way, and what would be needed.

The New York Times

That's a start, but still just a fraction of what would be needed to offset the added cost of Mr. Romney's G.D.P.-linked budget.

The New York Times

The expectation was he would be prepared to take on big questions without always having the answers, to think about what would be needed in the longer term.

The New York Times

BEHIND THE NEWS The increase in consumer spending was far short of what would be needed for a consumer-led economic recovery to take hold, analysts said.

The New York Times

On carbon emissions and on adaptation to protect the vulnerable it has fallen far short of what would be needed even in a low-sensitivity world.

The Economist

A spokeswoman for that effort said Thursday that more than 11,000 signatures had been collected, about a tenth of what would be needed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When outlining a project, use "what would be needed" to systematically list resources, skills, or permissions required for each phase.

Common error

Overusing "what would be needed" without specifying the subject or context can lead to ambiguity. Instead of saying "We need to determine what would be needed", specify "We need to determine what resources would be needed for the marketing campaign."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what would be needed" functions as a dependent interrogative clause, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It introduces a question about the necessary elements or conditions for a hypothetical or future scenario. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is usable and correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "what would be needed" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression to inquire about or specify requirements, especially in hypothetical scenarios. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is correct. Predominantly featured in news and scientific contexts, the phrase serves to prompt planning, resource assessment, and feasibility studies. Alternative phrases, such as "what is required" or "what is necessary", can be employed for a more formal tone. When using "what would be needed", clarity and context are crucial to avoid vagueness and ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what is necessary

Replaces "would be" with "is", indicating a present, rather than hypothetical, necessity.

what is required

Substitutes "needed" with "required", offering a more formal alternative.

what is essential

Replaces "needed" with "essential", emphasizing the critical importance of something.

what is crucial

Similar to "essential", but with a stronger emphasis on the decisive importance.

what is indispensable

Highlights that something is absolutely necessary and cannot be done without.

the prerequisites are

Focuses on the conditions that must be met beforehand.

the necessities are

Directly addresses the things that are absolutely required.

the requirements are

Highlights specific demands or conditions to be fulfilled.

the essentials are

Highlights the indispensable elements.

what must be done

Focuses on the actions or steps that are necessary.

FAQs

How can I use "what would be needed" in a sentence?

You can use "what would be needed" to inquire about or specify the requirements for a hypothetical situation or future task. For example, "What would be needed to launch a successful startup?"

What's a more formal alternative to "what would be needed"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "what is required" or "what is necessary". These alternatives maintain the meaning while sounding more professional.

How does "what would be needed" differ from "what is needed"?

"What would be needed" refers to hypothetical or future requirements, while "what is needed" refers to current or immediate requirements. The former explores possibilities, while the latter addresses present needs.

Is "what would be needed" interchangeable with "what will be needed"?

While similar, "what will be needed" implies a higher degree of certainty about the future. "What would be needed" suggests a more conditional or speculative scenario.