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need doing vs need to be done

Both are correct, but are used in different contexts. 'Need doing' is a less common construction used in informal British English, while 'need to be done' is more widely accepted and used in both British and American English.
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Explained by Miss E.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: June 14, 2024 • 534 views

need doing

This phrase is less common and considered informal in British English.

This phrase is used in informal British English to indicate that something needs to be done. It is not as widely accepted as 'need to be done.'

Examples:

  • The dishes need doing before we can start cooking.
  • The laundry needs doing this afternoon.
  • This job you need doing... Cold feet,
  • This job you need doing...
  • I need strong Irish backs for the things I need doing.
  • These foreign cleaners are dropping like flies. I need strong Irish backs for the things I need doing.
  • I was wondering if you had some chores that might need doing.
  • Perhaps the first thing that you will need doing is to request a vehicle history report.
  • The things he's doing are things that need doing.
  • Then of course there are so many other things that need doing: prepare the bivy, make something to eat, check the gear...
  • You know which of the first 50 actions we need doing?
  • However, the labour force coming from those countries that have been slow to develop is for the most part ill-equipped for the jobs that our economies need doing.
  • It seems to me that the current government of Nicaragua is doing many of the things that need doing in order to address this problem.
  • Going through the space in an 組織 Audit creates a list of all those little things that need doing. This allows you to schedule priorities and work at your own pace to end up with an organized home.
  • Is there anything else that you need doing, Sire?
  • To move our continent forward, to do the things that need doing that I talked about - getting young people employed.
  • Providing code is not the only way of contributing to the project; for a more complete list of things that need doing, please refer to the FreeBSD Project web site.
  • There was actually quite a bit of work Dogville didn't need doing that its residents would have to carry out for themselves in future
  • In fact, it turned out there were not so few things that the other townsfolk of Dogville didn't need doing either
  • List the things which need doing and ask each person to take responsibility for the different tasks. What do I know about Spain and Spanish culture?
  • Because the demographics are really going to leave us with lots of jobs that need doing and that we, our society, is going to have to be built on the shoulders of steel of robots in the future.
  • This is much neglected within the Union and there are many things which need doing in schools, the infrastructure sector, the care sector, health care and in the care of the elderly which could give the EU's 20 million unemployed meaningful employment.

Alternatives:

  • need to be done
  • need doing
  • need to be completed
  • need to be taken care of
  • need to be dealt with

need to be done

This phrase is more widely accepted and used in both British and American English.

This phrase is the more common and accepted way to express that something requires action. It is used in both British and American English.

Examples:

  • The report needs to be done by tomorrow.
  • The leak in the roof needs to be done as soon as possible.
  • John, these need to be done.
  • A timeline for when parts need to be done to keep the project moving smoothly6.
  • Both jobs need to be done on the same day.
  • Visit the Debian-NP ToDo list for up-to-date information on tasks that need to be done.
  • Work need to be done to make the industry more welcoming.
  • The exercises does not need to be done at the gym.
  • You should do things not because they're right or need to be done.
  • A simple action planning template (as used in over 175 countries) shows the actions that need to be done for tasks involved in the change.
  • Many things need to be done for a balance between the development of technology to human resources.
  • This will greatly help you to remind you when things need to be done by.
  • But on the other hand, sometimes there are moments when good people have to rise to the occasion and do the things that need to be done.
  • Now Munser, he need to be done.
  • Certain things need to be done.
  • Things need to be done as we planned them.
  • Maybe I just need to be done here.
  • We need to be done with the crazy, guys.
  • By doing the things that need to be done.
  • Something will need to be done about that girl.
  • The installation will need to be done by professionals, adding a bit to the cost.
  • This means that all of your housekeeping will need to be done from a desktop.

Alternatives:

  • need doing
  • need to be completed
  • need to be taken care of
  • need to be dealt with
  • need to be finished

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