it should be

USAGE SUMMARY

"it should be" is a perfectly valid and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you wish to express your opinion about something, or to suggest a certain course of action. For example: "It should be mandatory for employers to provide workers with health insurance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It should be rare.

The Economist

It should be scrapped.

The Guardian - Business

IT SHOULD be momentous.

The Economist

It should be good.

The New York Times - Arts

"It should be realistic.

The New York Times

"It should be voluntary".

The New York Times

"It should be easier".

The New Yorker

It should be something.

The New Yorker

It should be withdrawn.

The Economist

It should be preserved.

The New York Times

"It should be worried".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it should be" to express expectations, recommendations, or logical conclusions based on available information. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "it should be" when making arguments. Instead of stating what should happen, focus on providing evidence and reasoning to support your claims, demonstrating why something should be a certain way. Vary your sentence structure to avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it should be" primarily functions as a modal construction used to express expectations, recommendations, or predictions. It combines the pronoun 'it' with the modal verb 'should' and the verb 'be' to convey a sense of obligation or probability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it should be" is a versatile phrase used to express expectations, recommendations, or logical conclusions. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse contexts, ranging from news articles to wikis. While the phrase is suitable for both formal and informal writing, it's important to avoid overuse and provide evidence to support claims effectively. Remember to choose alternative phrases, such as "it needs to be" or "it is recommended that", to enhance clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is advisable to

Replaces "should" with "is advisable to", indicating a recommendation.

it needs to be

Expresses a requirement for something to happen.

it is recommended that

Uses a passive construction with "recommended" to convey a suggestion.

it would be best to

Suggests an optimal course of action.

it's expected to be

Shifts the focus to expectation rather than obligation.

it's necessary to

Indicates a requirement or need.

it is essential that

Emphasizes the necessity of something.

it's important to

Highlights the importance of an action or state.

it is crucial to

Underlines the critical nature of an action or state.

it is imperative that

Stresses the urgency or criticality of something.

FAQs

How can I use "it should be" in a sentence?

Use "it should be" to express an expectation, recommendation, or logical conclusion. For instance, "it should be easy to install" suggests an expectation, while "it should be banned" expresses a recommendation.

What are some alternatives to "it should be"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it needs to be", "it is recommended that", or "it is advisable to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "it should be" in formal writing?

It's appropriate in formal writing when expressing a professional opinion or recommendation based on evidence or logical reasoning. Be mindful of the tone to ensure it remains objective and not overly assertive.

Is "it should be" always interchangeable with "it must be"?

No, while both express a degree of certainty or necessity, "it must be" implies a stronger sense of certainty or obligation than "it should be". "It should be" leaves room for exceptions or alternative outcomes.