Jose Carillo's English Forum

English Grammar and Usage Problems => Badly Written, Badly Spoken => Topic started by: Miss Mae on June 16, 2014, 01:56:11 PM

Title: Needful VS. Necessary
Post by: Miss Mae on June 16, 2014, 01:56:11 PM

Is "please do the needful" more appropriate than "please do the necessary"?

Title: Re: Needful VS. Necessary
Post by: Joe Carillo on June 16, 2014, 02:48:01 PM

The noun “needful” means something needed or requisite, while the noun “necessary” means an indispensable or essential item, so they are actually synonymous. The more current word, though, is “necessary.” Personally, while saying “Please do the needful” is beyond reproach grammatically, it sounds quaint—almost archaic—to my ear. I would think that “Please do the necessary” is the more natural and idiomatic way of expressing that same idea.

Title: Re: Needful VS. Necessary
Post by: Miss Mae on June 17, 2014, 01:07:49 PM

Thank you for sharing your personal thought, Sir.