when and if necessary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when and if necessary" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action will be taken only under certain conditions or circumstances. Example: "We will implement the changes when and if necessary to improve the project's outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"The BMA also has procedures in place to call doctors in when and if necessary, to which every doctor would respond when needed.

The Guardian

He was eased into the flow of the offense last season and allowed to score points when and if necessary through an array of short-range jump shots and put-backs as he fought for offensive rebounds.

The New York Times

We have not received an invitation to the White House, but will make those decisions, when and if necessary". Will they go to Washington, D.C. and smile with the president?

Forbes

For that reason, another trend in grape growing is "sustainable" farming, which means the grape grower uses the smallest amounts of chemicals possible applying them only when and if necessary.

Forbes

Government agents are armed to the teeth and will easily blow away any insurgency when and if necessary.

Huffington Post

We will make those decisions when and if necessary". Athletes from championship teams have skipped the traditional White House visits before.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

In these cases, when available and if necessary, expressed sequence tags (EST) were used to confirm intron positions and boundaries.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Given its rapid expansion, this affords Coursera the opportunity to sit back and survey the space, and make that move when and if it becomes necessary or advantageous to do so.

TechCrunch

This includes detailed procedures and checklists for setting up the lab or the task, exactly what to say and what to record when screening participants (if necessary), and debriefing/following them up post-testing.

The Guardian

The new technology examines posts for child nudity and other exploitative content when they are uploaded and, if necessary, photos and accounts are reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

TechCrunch

Prokinetics were started when absorption was poor and, if necessary, a post-pyloric feeding tube was inserted.

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, consider restructuring sentences to place "when and if necessary" closer to the action it modifies, ensuring readers immediately understand the contingent nature of the action.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "when and if necessary" in writing. While it's useful for specifying conditions, frequent repetition can make your writing sound repetitive and less engaging. Vary your sentence structure and use synonyms to maintain reader interest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when and if necessary" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the conditions under which an action will occur. Ludwig AI highlights its usage in various contexts, emphasizing that an action is contingent upon both a specific time or situation ('when') and a genuine need ('if').

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

28%

Science

28%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when and if necessary" is a useful phrase to indicate that an action will only be performed under specific conditions of time and need. Ludwig AI indicates that while grammatically correct and versatile, its usage should be balanced to avoid redundancy. Alternative phrases such as "if and when needed" or "as needed" can provide similar meanings with variations in emphasis. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, and science contexts, demonstrating its broad applicability across various fields. It's a neutral register making it suitable for professional and casual writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if and when needed

Reverses the order of conditions and uses "needed" for simplicity.

as needed

A more concise and direct alternative, focusing on the necessity of the action.

when required

Emphasizes the requirement of the action based on the situation.

if the need arises

Highlights the potential for a need to occur, prompting the action.

only when necessary

Adds emphasis to the condition that the action should not be taken unless absolutely required.

subject to necessity

A more formal way to express that the action depends on the necessity.

contingent upon requirement

A highly formal and somewhat redundant expression, emphasizing dependency on a requirement.

depending on the situation

Focuses on the situational aspect that drives the necessity.

as circumstances dictate

Highlights that the circumstances will determine if the action is necessary.

if the situation warrants

Indicates that the action will be taken only if the situation justifies it.

FAQs

How can I use "when and if necessary" in a sentence?

Use "when and if necessary" to express that an action will occur only if a specific time or situation arises and there's a genuine need for it. For example, "We will implement the changes "when and if necessary" to improve the project's outcome."

What phrases are similar to "when and if necessary"?

Alternatives include "if and when needed", "as needed", or "only when necessary". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use "when and if necessary"?

While "when" and "if" both introduce conditions, "when and if necessary" emphasizes that both a specific time/situation and a genuine need must be present. It can be useful for clarity, but be mindful of overusing it.

What's the difference between "when necessary" and "when and if necessary"?

"When necessary" implies that the action is contingent only on the necessity of it, regardless of a specific condition. "When and if necessary" indicates both a specific time or situation must arise and the action must be necessary. The second option adds a conditional layer.