know how ought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "know how ought" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It seems to be a confusion of terms and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "I don't understand what you mean by 'know how ought' in this context."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Stanley and Williamson argue, on broadly linguistic grounds, that our default view of know how ought to be rather different from Ryle's.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Precisely because Villehardouin did not know how histories "ought" to be written, however, his work lacked the conventional preface modestly declaring the author's lack of ability.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"The last thing you're going to hear from this podium is someone thinking they know how Afghanistan ought to organize itself," he said.

The New York Times

I didn't know how I ought to take care of my children or my husband.

BMC Psychiatry

They believe they know how the world ought to work".

The New Yorker

DESIGNERS are lofty idealists who know how the world ought to behave.

The Economist

Girls with feathers, vulgar songs – Washy verse on England's need – God – and don't we damned well know How the message ought to read.

The Guardian - Books

And on her BBC London radio show, Vanessa Feltz said: "We take seriously people feeling harassed or threatened or intimidated – of course I do, I've got two daughters … but I just don't know how seriously this ought to be taken".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You want to know how a guy ought to dress?

Forbes

We know, or ought to know, how this story invariably ends.

The New Yorker

"If nothing else, one ought to know how to treat a comma".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing an expectation or obligation related to a skill, use the phrase "ought to know how" or "should know how" instead of the ungrammatical "know how ought".

Common error

Ensure that modal verbs like "ought" and "should" are followed by "to" when expressing obligation or advice related to an action. Using "know how ought" omits the necessary "to" and creates an ungrammatical sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "know how ought" attempts to express an expectation or obligation related to possessing a skill or knowledge. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. It lacks the necessary "to" between "ought" and "know", resulting in an ungrammatical structure.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "know how ought" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. As Ludwig AI points out, it lacks the necessary "to" between "ought" and "know". To properly convey the intended meaning of expectation or obligation related to a skill, use "ought to know how" or "should know how" instead. While the phrase might appear in various sources, its infrequency and grammatical incorrectness make it unsuitable for formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to know how

Uses the full "ought to" construction, making the phrase grammatically correct and conveying a sense of duty or expectation.

should know how

Replaces "ought" with "should", indicating a recommendation or expectation of knowing how to do something.

know how to

Focuses on the ability to do something, removing the sense of obligation or expectation.

understand how to

Emphasizes comprehension of the process rather than just the ability to perform it.

be expected to know how

Highlights the expectation that someone possesses a particular skill or knowledge.

need to know how

Indicates a requirement or necessity to acquire a specific skill or knowledge.

have to know how

Expresses an obligation or necessity to possess a particular skill or knowledge.

must know how

Conveys a strong obligation or requirement to possess a specific skill or knowledge.

are supposed to know how

Implies an assumption or expectation that someone possesses a particular skill or knowledge.

be required to know how

Indicates a formal requirement to possess a specific skill or knowledge.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "know how ought"?

The phrase "know how ought" is grammatically incorrect. You should use "ought to know how" or "should know how" instead.

What does "know how ought" mean?

The phrase "know how ought" doesn't have a standard meaning in English due to its incorrect grammatical structure. It likely intends to convey a sense of obligation or expectation regarding knowing how to do something, but it needs to be rephrased.

Is "know how ought" ever correct?

No, "know how ought" is not considered correct in standard English. The proper way to express this idea is by including the word "to": "ought to know how".

What are some alternatives to "know how ought"?

Alternatives include "should know how", "ought to know how", "need to know how", and "must know how", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.