Question

hiro01

25 Dec 2016

Japanese

English (US)
English (UK)

Question about English (US)

What is the difference between needless and unnecessary ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.

Answers

dchico

25 Dec 2016

English (US)
Spanish (Mexico)

I have though a bit about your question and the conclusion that I arrive is that they both have the same meaning. In other words they are synonyms. To my ear "needless" sounds more elegant than "unnecessary."

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wingyn

25 Dec 2016

Danish
English (US)
Simplified Chinese (China) Near fluent

They are essentially the same. I rarely use needless though. It depends on the situation. Sometimes needless just sounds better "needless to say" for example.

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elserguerr

25 Dec 2016

English (US)
Spanish (Mexico)

they are the same thing, but you don't usually use needless since it's professional in a way.
needless means " I need not say but I will" and unescessary is
"it's not necessary"

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dchico

25 Dec 2016

English (US)
Spanish (Mexico)

@elserguerr Needless to say, I don't agree with your definition of "needless" as being "I need not say." Needless means it is not needed. So one can say "his death was needless" as well as say "his death was unnecessary."

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elserguerr

25 Dec 2016

English (US)
Spanish (Mexico)

@dchico you're right, I'm used to hearing it being said as need not say, but you are right too.

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hiro01

29 Dec 2016

Japanese

Thank you all and sorry for being late reply.
They are almost same but
using "unnecessary " is natural.
In my understanding,
,"unnecessary “ is stronger than "not necessary" but
just wondering which is more strong "unnecessary" or "needless"?

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dchico

30 Dec 2016

English (US)
Spanish (Mexico)

@hiro01 I think "needless" but that may be a matter of taste.

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What is the difference between needless and unnecessary ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.

I have though a bit about your question and the conclusion that I arrive is that they both have the same meaning. In other words they are synonyms. To my ear "needless" sounds more elegant than "unnecessary."

They are essentially the same. I rarely use needless though. It depends on the situation. Sometimes needless just sounds better "needless to say" for example.

they are the same thing, but you don't usually use needless since it's professional in a way. needless means " I need not say but I will" and unescessary is "it's not necessary"

@elserguerr Needless to say, I don't agree with your definition of "needless" as being "I need not say." Needless means it is not needed. So one can say "his death was needless" as well as say "his death was unnecessary."

@dchico you're right, I'm used to hearing it being said as need not say, but you are right too.

@hiro01 I think "needless" but that may be a matter of taste.

they are the same thing, but you don't usually use needless since it's professional in a way.
needless means " I need not say but I will" and unescessary is
"it's not necessary"