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Eladio Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Needless / unnecessary
I'm sorry I'm repeating these questions but they are very important to me and it seems nobody could help me! Maybe Miriam, CalifJim, ...
I know in British English it is usual to say:
You needn't worry. I've taken care of it.
But can I also say? You don't need to worry. I've taken care of it.
Or, it is more idiomatic to say: You don't need worry. I've taken care of it.
Which one of the following sentences is more usual in spoken English?
I’m trying to cut down on all my unnecessary spending.
I’m trying to cut down on all my needless spending.
These are needless troubles you’re suffering because they could easily have been avoided.
These are unnecessary troubles you’re suffering because they could easily have been avoided.
I don’t want to worry you unnecessarily.
I don’t want to worry you needlessly.
I know in British English it is usual to say:
You needn't worry. I've taken care of it.
But can I also say? You don't need to worry. I've taken care of it.
Or, it is more idiomatic to say: You don't need worry. I've taken care of it.
Which one of the following sentences is more usual in spoken English?
I’m trying to cut down on all my unnecessary spending.
I’m trying to cut down on all my needless spending.
These are needless troubles you’re suffering because they could easily have been avoided.
These are unnecessary troubles you’re suffering because they could easily have been avoided.
I don’t want to worry you unnecessarily.
I don’t want to worry you needlessly.
Top answer
Hello Eladio 1. 'You needn't worry. I've taken care of it/You don't need to worry.
- Hello Eladio 1.
- 'You needn't worry.
- I've taken care of it/You don't need to worry.
- I've taken care of it' - both fine.
- 2.
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3 Answers
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Hello Eladio
1. 'You needn't worry. I've taken care of it/You don't need to worry. I've taken
care of it' - both fine.
2. 'You don't need worry. I've taken care of it' would not be correct.
3. 'I’m trying to cut down on all my unnecessary spending' would be the more usual.
'I’m trying to cut down on all my needless spending' sounds slightly odd.
1. 'You needn't worry. I've taken care of it/You don't need to worry. I've taken
care of it' - both fine.
2. 'You don't need worry. I've taken care of it' would not be correct.
3. 'I’m trying to cut down on all my unnecessary spending' would be the more usual.
'I’m trying to cut down on all my needless spending' sounds slightly odd.
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This hardly looks like a panic situation to me, Eladio-- it would be better to limit your exclamation marks and title your threads more appropriately-- for instance, this one might have been called: 'needless / unnecessary'.
All of your sentences are correct, common and idiomatic EXCEPT: X ' You don't need worry.'
Hope this helps.
All of your sentences are correct, common and idiomatic EXCEPT: X ' You don't need worry.'
Hope this helps.
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I don't have much to add except to say that I personally tend to use "unnecessary" when speaking of ordinary things fairly objectively and "needless" when speaking of troubles, suffering, worries and similar emotional matters.
"spending" would be "unnecessary" to me -- I don't have to spend. It is not necessary for me to spend.
"troubles", etc. would be "needless" to me -- be
"spending" would be "unnecessary" to me -- I don't have to spend. It is not necessary for me to spend.
"troubles", etc. would be "needless" to me -- be
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