be expected not to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be expected not to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone is anticipated or required to refrain from doing something. Example: "Employees are expected not to disclose confidential information outside the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

No woman could be expected not to laugh, and to Hitler this would be intolerable.

The New York Times - Books

He can't be expected not to want to sleep with other people, so he can't expect her to think differently.

The New York Times

For the first time in 53 years, 51 million Burmese people have got a genuine civilian president who is not a general or ex-general in civilian clothing, and who can be expected not to promote the military's interests.

The Guardian - Opinion

Successful applicant will be expected not to watch any women's sports, excepting, under certain circumstances, beach volleyball, and to have seen "The Passion of the Christ" on opening weekend.

The New Yorker

But the rules also say that if a publication did not print this information when citing an analyst in an article, then the analyst would be expected not to speak to that publication again.

The New York Times

FROM October 2006, British employers will be expected not to make decisions about recruitment, training, promotion and dismissal on the basis of age, unless they can justify them objectively.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

We are expected not to feel entitled to these things.

The Guardian

Perhaps we are expected not to notice it at all.

The Guardian - Film

Students are expected not to look at the solutions from previous years.

Stanford University

He is expected not to return for a few months yet.

Independent

The petty criminals who raced past him were expected not to misbehave again.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be expected not to" to convey a sense of obligation or anticipation, particularly when specifying a required behavior. Consider stronger alternatives like "must not" or "are prohibited from" for emphasis.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive constructions like "be expected not to", as it can make your writing sound weak or indirect. Active voice often provides clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be expected not to" functions as a modal construction, expressing obligation, anticipation, or requirement. Ludwig AI suggests that this construction is grammatically correct. Its function is to indicate that someone is anticipated or required to refrain from doing something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

32%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be expected not to" is a grammatically sound phrase that conveys a sense of obligation or anticipation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, with a neutral to formal register. For those seeking alternatives, "should not" or "are not supposed to" offer similar meanings with varying degrees of emphasis. While versatile, be mindful of passive voice overuse. Leverage it judiciously to ensure clarity and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should not

A more direct and common way to express prohibition or advisement against something.

are not supposed to

Indicates a rule or guideline that one is advised to follow.

are required not to

Emphasizes a mandatory obligation to avoid something.

must not

Expresses a strong prohibition or necessity to avoid something.

are advised not to

Suggests a recommendation against a certain action.

are discouraged from

Indicates that an action is not favored or recommended.

are meant not to

Suggests an intended purpose of avoiding a certain action.

are prohibited from

Indicates a formal ban or restriction.

are to refrain from

A formal way of indicating that one should abstain from something.

are under no obligation to

Indicates the absence of a requirement or expectation.

FAQs

What does "be expected not to" mean?

The phrase "be expected not to" indicates that someone is anticipated or required to refrain from doing something, implying a sense of obligation or anticipation.

How can I use "be expected not to" in a sentence?

You can use "be expected not to" to describe required behaviors or anticipated actions. For example: "Employees "are expected not to" disclose confidential information."

What are some alternatives to "be expected not to"?

Alternatives include "should not", "are not supposed to", or "must not", depending on the level of emphasis you want to convey.

Is "be expected not to" formal or informal?

"Be expected not to" is generally considered neutral to formal. For more informal contexts, phrases like "are not supposed to" may be more appropriate.