it should have done

USAGE SUMMARY

"it should have done" is a correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to express something that was expected or planned to happen in the past, but did not actually happen. Example: I thought my team would win the game, but it should have done better in the last quarter.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unfortunately for HP, it should have done its homework up front, but if in fact there was fraud, then it doesn't matter what it should have done.

TechCrunch

Now Twitter is adding Periscope's live streaming abilities to its own app, something it should have done from the start.

TechCrunch

A company of its size and expertise should have known better and it should have done better.

The Guardian

Or it should have done.

Independent

It should have done.

The Guardian - Opinion

It should have done that long ago.

The New York Times

TfL recognises it should have done better.

The Guardian - Money

But it should have done better given the conditions.

The Economist

"It got a lot closer than it should have done".

The Guardian - Sport

It didn't do as well as it should have done".

The New York Times

This conference did what it should have done.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it should have done" to express regret or to point out a missed opportunity or expectation in the past. Ensure the context clearly indicates what 'it' refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "it should have done" when referring to present or future actions; this phrase is strictly for past unfulfilled actions or expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it should have done" functions as a modal phrase expressing regret, criticism, or the highlighting of a missed opportunity or expectation. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it should have done" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express that something was expected or necessary in the past but didn't occur. Ludwig AI validates its frequent usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academia. The phrase often conveys regret or criticism. While alternatives like "it ought to have done" and "it was supposed to do" exist, the key is to use the phrase accurately to refer to past events and avoid confusion with similar-sounding phrases like "it could have done". Therefore, it is correct to say "it should have done" in numerous contexts to indicate an unfulfilled past action, expectation or obligation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it ought to have done

Replaces "should" with "ought to", maintaining the same meaning with a slightly more formal tone.

it was supposed to do

Uses "supposed to" to indicate an expectation that was not met.

it was meant to do

Indicates a planned or intended action that did not occur.

it had to do

Emphasizes necessity or obligation in the past.

it needed to do

Highlights the need or requirement for a past action.

it was required to do

Stresses a formal or mandatory obligation that was not fulfilled.

it failed to do

Directly states the lack of action or completion.

it was essential to do

Highlights the critical importance of a missed action.

it didn't do as expected

Focuses on the deviation from the expected outcome.

it would have been better if it had done

Expresses regret or a preference for a different past action.

FAQs

How can I use "it should have done" in a sentence?

Use "it should have done" to express that something was expected or necessary to occur in the past, but did not. For example, "The company invested in marketing, but "it should have done" more market research beforehand."

What's the difference between "it should have done" and "it could have done"?

"It should have done" implies an obligation or expectation that was not met, while "it could have done" suggests a possibility or potential that was not realized. "It should have done" suggests a mistake, while "it could have done" suggests an option that wasn't chosen.

What can I say instead of "it should have done"?

You can use alternatives like "it ought to have done", "it was supposed to do", or "it needed to do" depending on the context.

Is "it should have did" grammatically correct?

No, "it should have did" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""it should have done"", using the past participle form of the verb 'do'.