2104: If Need(s) Be Sep 18, 2020

As with a few other phrases, there is a split between "if need be" and "if needs be", even if there are some slight differences to how the two will be placed in a sentences. The rarer by far is "if needs be"; it’s a linguistically normal phrase, albeit a bit archaic. The ‘be’ part of it is again somewhat dated, a form of the subjunctive, but not wholly uncommon given that fact, such as when considering

“Let it be”

“If it be [is]”

“If need be”