must be vs needs to be

Both "must be" and "needs to be" are correct phrases in English, but they are used in slightly different contexts. "Must be" is more authoritative and emphasizes a requirement or obligation, while "needs to be" is more suggestive and focuses on a necessity or requirement. The choice between the two depends on the level of certainty or obligation you want to convey.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 1089 views

The phrase "must be" is correct and commonly used in English to express a strong requirement or obligation.

"must be"

Use "must be" when you want to emphasize a strong requirement or obligation. It is often used in rules, regulations, or instructions.

Examples:

You must be at least 18 years old to enter the club.
Students must be in their seats before the bell rings.

Show examples from the web [+]

So the greatest penitence must be ours.
A young program decides Clu must be stopped.
Children must be corrected for their faults.
All incoming test subjects must be examined.
There must be a second payment.
There must be some mistake then.
Grayson must be covering his tracks.
A tribute must be paid, nonetheless.
This must be what he meant by vulnerable.
Papa says mission must be completed.
King George's carriage must be spotless for tomorrow'souourney.
It must be rabies or something.
The Northeast map must be completed soon.
Arrestees must be in possession of identity cards.
All the guilt must be exhausting.
Widows must be open in laboring.
Paris must be flattened, especially the Opera.
You must be a man worth knowing.
Clearly your mother must be someone of impeccable taste.
Then this must be Calaca's finger.

Alternatives:

have to be
should be
need to be
required to be
obliged to be

The phrase "needs to be" is correct and commonly used in English to express a necessity or requirement.

"needs to be"

Use "needs to be" when you want to convey a sense of necessity or requirement. It is often used to suggest what is necessary or essential.

Examples:

The report needs to be submitted by Friday.
The room needs to be cleaned before the guests arrive.

Show examples from the web [+]

That line needs to be broken.
Westeros needs to be saved from itself.
Competition between financing options needs to be significantly encouraged.
The Europa website needs to be improved.
Our presence needs to be 100-percent antiseptic.
Particular attention needs to be paid to developing countries.
For example, consumer protection needs to be strengthened.
Madam President, this directive needs to be reviewed urgently.
First, customs cooperation needs to be established promptly.
Legislation needs to be implemented consistently across the country.
The medium-term budgetary strategy needs to be strengthened.
For any position the Δp2σ-requirement needs to be fulfilled.
Marco needs to be emancipated from his father.
This bloodletting needs to be repeated.
Which is where he needs to be in 20 minutes.
Very fattening for a pig who needs to be fat.
She needs to be committed to a psychiatric hospital.
It needs to be signed by somebody at the City Clerk's Office.
Everything is where it needs to be.
This needs to be the hoop dreams of things people care about.

Alternatives:

should be
has to be
is required to be
is necessary to be
is essential to be

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must be vs needs to be

"must be"

"needs to be"

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