it should tell

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it should tell" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that something is expected to provide information or convey a message. Example: "The report is incomplete; it should tell us the financial status of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

If vehicle Ve changes its lane after clustering, it should tell its related SCH to remove it from the list of SC and tell CH.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

Usually you won't be in the room when someone reads your CV, so it should tell its own story.

The Guardian

If Jersey City is serious about improving its quality of life, it should tell developers to set aside apartments for fledgling dog walkers, trainee barbers, neophyte bus drivers and cobbler's apprentices.

The New York Times

"It should tell the whole world, not just Europe and America," he said.

The New York Times

But if so, Breakingviews thinks it should tell the market – rather than leaving it guessing.

The New York Times

It should tell me that prices have gone down so values have gone up".

The New York Times

It should tell us something that we have to go to the Onion for that insight.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

China, which invented the abacus as we know it today, should tell its statisticians to fix theirs.

The Economist

"If the ISI hasn't done it, they should tell us who did it because they're supposed to know," Mr. Sethi said.

The New York Times

The most fervent are likely to be the brokers touting it, which should tell you something.

Forbes

And while they're at it, they should tell us whether their manifesto commitment for 20 new quangos is now on ice".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it should tell" when you want to express an expectation or a requirement for something to convey information. For instance, "The instruction manual should tell you how to assemble the device."

Common error

Avoid using "it should tell" repeatedly in complex sentences. Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms or rephrasing to maintain clarity and avoid redundancy. For example, instead of "The data should tell us the trends, and it should also tell us the causes", try "The data should reveal both the trends and their underlying causes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it should tell" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing expectation or obligation regarding the provision of information. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage. It sets the expectation that something, referred to as "it", will communicate or reveal specific details.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

21%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it should tell" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to convey an expectation that something will provide information. As Ludwig AI confirms, its frequent occurrence across various contexts, notably news, science, and wiki sources, highlights its broad applicability. While alternatives like "it ought to reveal" or "it is expected to indicate" exist for more formal settings, "it should tell" remains a clear and direct way to guide expectations about the information something should convey. Avoiding its overuse and maintaining clarity are key to effective writing. Given the high source quality and consistent usage, this phrase is a reliable choice for expressing anticipated informational content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it ought to reveal

Changes the modal verb to 'ought' and replaces 'tell' with 'reveal'.

it is expected to indicate

Replaces the modal verb with 'is expected' and uses 'indicate' instead of 'tell'.

it is meant to communicate

Employs 'is meant to' and 'communicate' for a slightly different nuance.

it is supposed to show

Uses 'is supposed to' and 'show' to convey expectation.

it needs to express

Changes to 'needs to' and 'express' to highlight necessity.

it must disclose

Replaces with 'must' and 'disclose' for a stronger sense of obligation.

it should clarify

Substitutes 'tell' with 'clarify' to emphasize making something clearer.

it is required to detail

Uses a passive construction with 'required to' and 'detail'.

it has to explain

Replaces 'should' with 'has to' and 'tell' with 'explain'.

it would do well to mention

Employs a more suggestive tone with 'would do well to mention'.

FAQs

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

You can use "it should tell" to express an expectation about the information something will provide. For instance, "The results of the experiment "it should tell" us whether the hypothesis is correct."

What's a more formal way to say "it should tell"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "it ought to indicate" or "it is expected to reveal". These alternatives provide a similar meaning but are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is "it should tell" always grammatically correct?

Yes, "it should tell" is grammatically correct when used to express an expectation or requirement for information. However, ensure the subject "it" clearly refers to something capable of providing information.

What's the difference between "it should tell" and "it must tell"?

"It should tell" implies an expectation or recommendation, while "it must tell" suggests a stronger obligation or necessity. For example, "The sign "it should tell" you the speed limit" versus "The contract "it must tell" you the terms of service".