it should show

USAGE SUMMARY

"it should show" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when making a statement about what one believes the result should be when following a certain course of action. For example, "If we follow the instructions, it should show us how to build the model airplane."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It should show some responsibility and go to its room.

Forbes

It should show intimacy running into wildness.

The Guardian

It should show whether stellarators can be scaled up to a useful size.

The Economist

The company explained that sometimes the phone showed four bars when it should show only two.

The New York Times - Tech

If Poland craves blessing, it should show restraint and self-denial.

The Economist

It should show the villages, the communities that have been dependent on the sea for centuries.

The Guardian

It should show American policymakers the wisdom of working to persuade Pashtuns to reject the Taliban.

The New York Times

The three stipulations of mass art during the Cultural Revolution were that it should show "redness, brightness and luminosity".

The Economist

Instead of a story, the film provides data, telling you what it should show, suggest or leave implicit.

The New York Times

Zum Schneider asked customers whether it should show the German games live or tape-delayed at a more civilized hour.

The New York Times

Also, we felt strongly that the university shouldn't say it was creative; it should show that it was.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it should show", ensure the subject "it" is clearly defined and understood by the reader to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "it should show" when the referent of "it" is ambiguous. Always ensure the pronoun clearly refers to a specific noun or concept.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it should show" functions as a modal verb phrase, expressing an expectation, prediction, or logical consequence. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. It indicates what result or outcome is anticipated under certain conditions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

39%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it should show" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for expressing expectation or prediction. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across a diverse set of contexts. While its tone is generally neutral and applicable in many situations, more formal or precise alternatives might be preferred in academic or scientific writing. The phrase's effectiveness lies in clearly defining what "it" refers to, preventing any ambiguity in its intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it ought to reveal

Replaces "should" with "ought to", offering a slightly more formal tone and emphasizing obligation or expectation.

it is expected to display

Changes the structure to passive voice and uses "expected", emphasizing anticipation and anticipation.

it is supposed to indicate

Uses "supposed to" to convey expectation based on a rule or agreement, adding a nuance of requirement.

it is likely to present

Focuses on the probability of something appearing, using "likely" to soften the expectation.

it would logically follow

Emphasizes the logical consequence or result, using "logically follow" to highlight reasoning.

the evidence suggests

Shifts the focus to the evidence that supports the expectation, providing a more empirical tone.

the data implies

Highlights the data's role in suggesting or indicating something, suitable for analytical contexts.

we anticipate seeing

Changes the perspective to the observer and uses "anticipate" to convey expectation with a sense of looking forward.

one would expect it to

Uses an impersonal construction to state what is generally expected, adding a layer of detachment.

it can be inferred

Focuses on the ability to draw a conclusion from available information, emphasizing deduction.

FAQs

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

"It should show" is used to express an expectation about what something will reveal or indicate. For example, "If you run the test, "it should show" the error message".

What can I say instead of "it should show"?

You can use alternatives such as "it ought to reveal", "it is expected to display", or "it is supposed to indicate", depending on the context.

Is "it should show" formal or informal?

"It should show" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives might be preferred in highly formal writing.

Which is correct, "it should show" or "it shows"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct but have different meanings. "It shows" describes a current state, while ""it should show"" expresses an expectation or prediction about a future or conditional result.