when the situation demanded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when the situation demanded" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate a time when specific actions or responses were necessary due to circumstances. Example: "She stepped up to lead the team when the situation demanded." Alternative expressions include "when required" and "when necessary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Mathieu Debuchy should have scored but passed to Rémy when the situation demanded a shot.

The Guardian - Sport

In retrospect, managing the Mets must have been frustrating for Randolph as he tried to get a mostly veteran Mets team to play with a championship mentality, to respond with toughness when the situation demanded it.

The New York Times - Sports

Less obviously anarchic representatives of the rock establishment including Eric Clapton, Sting, Mark Knopfler, Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox were all resourceful enough to put a roof over their heads when the situation demanded it.

The Guardian - Music

So Partovi did what he has done many times when the situation demanded it: He assumed the identity of his twin brother, Ali, who at the time was working at a small software company–and walked right in.

Forbes

The basis of his game was a good defensive technique, although he was able to accelerate and play attacking shots when the situation demanded.

Wikipedia

This week, Cardinal Pell has given evidence to commission that can largely be summed up like this: Pell had absolutely no idea that any abuse was taking place, despite holding numerous positions of authority, and despite being involved in the decisions to move priests from one post to another when the situation demanded.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

She can always control her shudders when the situation demands it.

The New Yorker

But people return to those selves, those ways of self-organising, as if by instinct when the situation demands it.

The Guardian - Books

But great players usually have answers, along with the ability to raise their level of play when the situation demands it.

The New York Times - Sports

"They push the envelope," said an executive at Star, "but then to make up for it, they become more patriotic than Jiang Zemin when the situation demands it".

The New York Times

Do you think that this new mode of communication has diminished your ability to write more formally when the situation demands it?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing it with stronger verbs such as "necessitated" or "compelled" if you wish to emphasize the urgency or unavoidable nature of the response.

Common error

Avoid using "when the situation demanded" excessively in passive voice constructions. Instead of saying "Changes were made when the situation demanded", opt for active constructions like "The team made changes when the situation demanded" for greater clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when the situation demanded" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying a verb in the main clause by specifying when an action occurred or a state existed. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "when the situation demanded" functions as an adverbial clause of time, providing context by specifying the circumstances that necessitated a particular action. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly found in various sources, particularly in News & Media. While versatile, it's advisable to vary your language by considering synonyms like "as circumstances required" or "when it became necessary".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when it became necessary

Rephrases to emphasize the necessity of an action at a particular time.

as circumstances required

Replaces "situation" with "circumstances" and "demanded" with "required", emphasizing necessity.

when the circumstances necessitated

Substitutes "situation" with "circumstances" and "demanded" with "necessitated", highlighting the compelling nature of the situation.

when conditions warranted

Emphasizes that specific conditions justified or necessitated an action.

when the need arose

Simplifies the phrase to focus on the emergence of a need, implying a required action.

as the occasion required

Uses "occasion" instead of "situation" and "required" for "demanded", slightly shifting the context to a specific event.

when events dictated

Replaces "situation" with "events" and "demanded" with "dictated", conveying a sense of external control.

when the time came

A more general phrase indicating a specific moment when action was needed.

when the moment called for it

Uses a more figurative expression to indicate a critical juncture.

as the case may be

Indicates action will be taken based on particular circumstances or developments.

FAQs

How can I use "when the situation demanded" in a sentence?

Use "when the situation demanded" to describe actions taken because of specific circumstances. For example, "She took on extra responsibilities "when the situation demanded"".

What are some alternatives to "when the situation demanded"?

You can use alternatives such as "as circumstances required", "when the need arose", or "when it became necessary" to vary your writing.

Is "when the situation demanded" formal or informal?

"When the situation demanded" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, consider more formal alternatives like "as circumstances required" in highly formal writing.

What's the difference between "when the situation demanded" and "if the situation demands"?

"When the situation demanded" refers to a past event, while "if the situation demands" refers to a hypothetical future scenario. For example, "He acted "when the situation demanded"", versus "He will act if the situation demands".