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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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would need to be

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

"would need to be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a necessity for something to be done, especially as part of a conditional statement. For example: "If we wanted to complete the project, the materials would need to be ordered by next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Even this would need to be qualified.

News & Media

The Economist

"That would need to be noted.

News & Media

The New Yorker

This would need to be a consideration.

Both would need to be substantially increased.

-Who would need to be won over?

News & Media

The New York Times

That it would need to be said".

Important choices would need to be made.

News & Media

The New York Times

Any changes would need to be carefully calibrated.

Once undressed, she would need to be examined.

N.F.L. teams would need to be convinced of that cleansing.

News & Media

The New York Times

It would need to be endorsed by parliament.

News & Media

The Economist
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "would need to be", ensure the context clearly establishes the condition or situation that necessitates the action or state. For instance, specify the 'if' condition that triggers the need.

Common error

Avoid using "would need to be" excessively in passive constructions. Whenever possible, rephrase sentences to use active voice for clearer and more direct communication. For example, instead of "The report would need to be reviewed by the manager", consider "The manager would need to review the report".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would need to be" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a conditional necessity or requirement. According to Ludwig AI, it expresses that something is necessary, especially as part of a conditional statement. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts, from political analysis to scientific research.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

42%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "would need to be" is a versatile modal verb construction used to express conditional necessity or requirement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific sources, its neutral to formal register makes it suitable for professional communication. To ensure clarity, the condition necessitating the action should be clearly established. While grammatically sound, overuse in passive constructions should be avoided to maintain writing conciseness and directness.

FAQs

How can I use "would need to be" in a sentence?

Use "would need to be" to express a conditional necessity. For example, "If we want to succeed, the plan "would need to be" carefully executed".

What phrases are similar to "would need to be"?

Similar phrases include "would have to be", "should be", and "must be", depending on the context and the strength of the necessity.

Is "would need to be" formal or informal?

"Would need to be" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its level of formality is neutral and widely acceptable.

What's the difference between "would need to be" and "should be"?

"Would need to be" expresses a conditional necessity, while "should be" expresses a recommendation or expectation. The former implies a stronger requirement depending on a condition, whereas the latter suggests what is advisable or preferable.

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Authority and reliability

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: