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Original poster

"Needs done" - is this a regional thing?

27 replies

squashyhat · 22/01/2021 10:12

Not a goady/judgy post - just interested. I'm currently watching Homes Under the Hammer, and Martel when talking about work required on a property says "the bathroom needs done" or "replastering needs done" when I would say "needs doing". She's a Scot and I'm from SE England. Is it a colloquial/regional phrase or just her way of speaking?

OP posts:
BobbingPuffins · 22/01/2021 10:14

Completely standard in Scotland. Took me a while to get used to it when I moved here from England.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 22/01/2021 10:15

Im an Essex girl living in Scotland. I never heard anyone say this before I moved here. Now I hear it all the time.
I even say it myself sometimes!
So yes, I think its Scots grammer.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 22/01/2021 10:16

Yes it is. Its really not that different to what you say so not sure why it confuses so many people.

Ginfordinner · 22/01/2021 10:16

I'm in Yorkshire, and this expression is common parlance here.

LittleRa · 22/01/2021 10:18

I’m in the north east and I see similar on Facebook marketplace posts for people giving things away-
“needs gone”.

unicornparty · 22/01/2021 10:18

I've never heard it in East Anglia.

Changethetoner · 22/01/2021 10:18

I'd also say "my hair needs washed" ,. Not needs washing. I'm Scottish.

Original poster
squashyhat · 22/01/2021 10:21

Yes! "Needs gone" as well - I had forgotten that one. Very interesting that it seems to be a Scots thing.

OP posts:
ParkheadParadise · 22/01/2021 10:21

I'm Scottish
That's what everyone I know says.

EddisonTortoise · 22/01/2021 10:21

Yes it is. Its really not that different to what you say so not sure why it confuses so many people.

She didn't say it confused her.

It's technically incorrect (mixed tenses) and should be needs doing or needs to be done.

So she was probably just wondering 🤷🏻‍♀️

BigGlasses · 22/01/2021 10:22

I’m Scottish and I would say needs done. Or maybe needing done. Needs doing also works, but I do t think I would naturally say it. I have no idea what is grammatically correct , but am now paranoid that I’ve put it in work emails and people think I’m stupid 😬.

movingonbackwards · 22/01/2021 10:22

We say it in Belfast too!

ParkheadParadise · 22/01/2021 10:24

@Changethetoner
Me too.
My hair needs washed
The kitchen needs done

rc22 · 22/01/2021 10:42

@Ginfordinner I'm in East Yorkshire and don't hear it here. We'd say 'needs doing'.

NoPupIsTooSmall · 22/01/2021 10:57

Ah that's interesting. I'm in Scotland so needs done, needs gone, needs washed all seem very normal to me!

jenniuol · 22/01/2021 11:15

I’m Scottish and would say needs done, needs washed but never ever needs gone. I’ve only ever seen/heard that used on Facebook marketplace/selling pages. I absolutely despise it actually 😂

RememberSelfCompassion · 22/01/2021 11:17

Im southern England so would correct needs gone/needs done etc if it came up in work I was marking. It irritates me on facebook pages beyond belief.

I have learnt through mumsnet it's a colloquialism and normal in some regions though.

gingajewel · 22/01/2021 11:54

Sorry to de rail slightly, my ex manager was Scottish and I used to love it when he said “I stay at address” instead of “I live at address” it used to make me smile every time!

borntobequiet · 22/01/2021 11:57

I recognise that it’s a regional thing and when I’ve heard it I haven’t really noticed but it still grates when I read it written down.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 22/01/2021 12:22

@EddisonTortoise

Yes it is. Its really not that different to what you say so not sure why it confuses so many people.

She didn't say it confused her.

It's technically incorrect (mixed tenses) and should be needs doing or needs to be done.

So she was probably just wondering 🤷🏻‍♀️

Where did I say it confused the OP? This has been done on loads of threads and people always claim they don't understand.
Ch3rish · 22/01/2021 12:25

Where did I say it confused the OP? This has been done on loads of threads and people always claim they don't understand

This thread needs putting on the list of threads that are started most weeks Grin

StepOutOfLine · 22/01/2021 12:26

Yes, it's regional.
Yes, it's correct.
No, it's nothing to do with tenses.

It came about as the (also perfectly correct but longer) needs to be + past participle fell into disuse.

SarahAndQuack · 22/01/2021 12:26

Yes, it's regional.

No, it's not 'incorrect'.

MynephewR · 22/01/2021 12:27

I'd never heard of it before I joined MN and saw it written on her. The first time I assumed it was a mistake but then I saw it more and more and realised it must be a regional thing.

SWnewstart · 22/01/2021 13:36

Sorry, but it IS grammatically incorrect to say something like "needs done" instead of "needs doing or needs to be done". I understand the regional usage etc and that's fine. However, mass usage does not change the rules (for want of a better word) of the English language. It simply means the way will become accepted over time.