it should be worried

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it should be worried" is not correct in standard English.
The correct form would be "it should worry" or "it should be worried about." Example: "Given the recent events, it should worry the management team."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"It should be worried".

The New York Times

There are two signs that it should be worried.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

If they upheld it I should be worried".

Huffington Post

It should be worrying for a Labour leader if he can't win, or at least hold is own, on the NHS.

The Guardian

This may not be an explicit contradiction, but it should be worrying all the same.

SEP

In the world of cryptomillionaires, that's diversification, and it should be worrying for wealth managers beginning to eye those whose high net worth has risen along with the price of bitcoin.

TechCrunch

"I think people now feel it in their own lives, and I think they're worried about it, and they should be worried about it".

The New York Times - Magazine

But aside from the joking, the comedian had a serious point to make -- it's not undocumented workers Trump should be worried about, it's the people who continue to hire them.

Huffington Post

The Independent's environment editor Tom Bawden explains what it is – and who should be worried.

Independent

Almost always, these stories are underpinned by a sense of alarm and the assumption that it is something we should be worried about.

Independent

Late on Friday night, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt insisted it was Labour that should be worried by the results.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating that something should cause concern, prefer the construction "it should be concerning" or "it should worry" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "it should be worried" as it's grammatically awkward. Instead, consider using "it should cause worry" or "it should be concerning" to convey the intended meaning more effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it should be worried" functions to express a sense of impending concern or anxiety. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is not correct in standard English, with better alternatives including "it should worry" or "it should be concerning".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it should be worried" appears in various contexts, Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically non-standard. More appropriate alternatives include "it should worry" or "it should be concerning", particularly in formal settings. Analysis of usage patterns reveals its rare frequency across news, media, and scientific domains. Therefore, writers should favor more grammatically sound and widely accepted phrases to effectively convey concern or apprehension. Preferring alternatives not only ensures grammatical correctness but also enhances clarity and professionalism in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it should be concerning

Replaces the passive form "worried" with the adjective "concerning" to describe the situation.

it ought to be a concern

Replaces "should" with "ought to be", maintaining a similar level of obligation or advisability.

it has to be worried about

Uses "has to be" to indicate necessity, suggesting that worrying is essential.

there is cause for concern

Replaces the conditional and passive voice with a more direct statement of concern.

one needs to be concerned

Emphasizes necessity, using "needs to be" instead of "should be", and replaces "worried" with "concerned".

there's reason to be alarmed

Emphasizes a higher degree of concern using "alarmed" instead of "worried".

it warrants concern

Uses a more formal tone to express that something deserves attention and worry.

it should give cause for alarm

Similar meaning but uses stronger vocabulary to express a sense of urgency.

there is reason for apprehension

Replaces "worried" with a more formal term, "apprehension", indicating anxiety or fear.

one should be apprehensive

Uses a more formal and distanced tone, replacing "it" with "one" and "worried" with "apprehensive".

FAQs

What is the correct way to phrase a sentence expressing something that should cause concern?

Instead of "it should be worried", you can say "it should worry" or "it should be concerning". Both are grammatically sound and convey the message effectively.

What does "it should be worried" mean?

While not grammatically standard, "it should be worried" is intended to mean that something ought to cause concern or anxiety. It suggests a reason for someone to be anxious or concerned about a situation.

Are there more formal alternatives to "it should be worried"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "it warrants concern" or "there is cause for concern". These options provide a more sophisticated and professional tone.

Is "it should be worried" grammatically correct?

No, "it should be worried" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct phrasing would be "it should worry" (active voice) or "one should be worried" or the impersonal "it should be concerning".