definitely should

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "definitely should" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong recommendation or obligation regarding an action that someone ought to take. Example: "You definitely should consider applying for that job; it aligns perfectly with your skills."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

We definitely should be worried".

The New York Times

They definitely should not be his last.

The New York Times

[Notre Dame's Manti Te'o] definitely should win.

The New York Times

I definitely should have worn looser pants.

The New York Times - Food

I definitely should have asked this question.

The Guardian

He definitely should, indeed does, know better than this.

Independent

Those should not have happened; this definitely should not.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

To iterate, the questions about government responsibility are on a four-point scale, from 'definitely should not be' (1) to 'definitely should be' (4).

Comparative Migration Studies

As a result we ended up with four dependent variables where the respondents answered those different tasks 'definitely should not be'probablybly should not be'probablybly should be' or 'definitely should be' a government responsibility.

Comparative Migration Studies

Participants have to complete questions such as 'My mother thinks that I…' with a five point answering scale ranging from 'definitely should not smoke' to 'definitely should smoke'.

BMC Public Health

Responses were made on 7-point scales with endpoints labelled 'definitely should not' and 'definitely should.' There was good internal consistency among the items relating to both BCS (α =.712) and mastectomy (α =.749).

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "definitely should" to express a strong recommendation or obligation, ensuring the context supports a direct and assertive tone. For instance: "You "definitely should" review the contract before signing."

Common error

Avoid overusing "definitely should" in highly formal contexts, such as academic papers or legal documents. Opt for more nuanced phrases like "it is advisable" or "it is imperative" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "definitely should" functions as an intensified auxiliary verb construction, expressing a strong sense of obligation or recommendation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates that an action is highly advisable or expected.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "definitely should" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a strong recommendation or obligation. Ludwig AI validates its usability in various contexts, although it's best suited for neutral to informal settings. While extremely common across sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian, remember to consider stronger or more nuanced alternatives like "certainly ought to" or "it is imperative that" for formal writing. Overusing "definitely should" can diminish the impact of your writing. Using "definitely should" sparingly, along with varying your sentence structure and word choice to express a strong opinion, will have you communicating effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

certainly ought to

Replaces "definitely" with "certainly" and uses "ought to" instead of "should", offering a slightly more formal tone.

undoubtedly must

Emphasizes necessity with "undoubtedly" and "must", increasing the strength of the obligation.

absolutely need to

Conveys a strong necessity, focusing on the need for the action rather than a recommendation.

without a doubt should

Adds emphasis by stating there is no doubt about the necessity of the action.

emphatically should

Highlights the strength of the recommendation through the adverb "emphatically".

strongly advised to

Uses a more passive construction to suggest a strong recommendation from an external source.

highly recommended to

Similar to "strongly advised to" but emphasizes the recommendation aspect.

it is imperative that

Introduces a more formal and urgent tone, indicating that the action is crucial.

you'd be wise to

Offers a softer approach, suggesting that the action is beneficial for the recipient's own good.

it's crucial that

Focuses on the criticality of the action, similar to "it is imperative that" but slightly less formal.

FAQs

How can I use "definitely should" in a sentence?

Use "definitely should" to express a strong recommendation or expectation. For example: "You "definitely should" try that new restaurant."

What are some alternatives to "definitely should"?

Alternatives include "certainly ought to", "absolutely need to", or "undoubtedly must" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is "definitely should" formal or informal?

"Definitely should" leans towards a neutral to informal register. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "it is imperative that" or "it is advisable".

When is it appropriate to use "definitely should"?

Use "definitely should" when you want to strongly advise or recommend something. It's suitable for everyday conversations and less formal writing. For instance, "You "definitely should" bring an umbrella; it's going to rain."