must be expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must be expected" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something is anticipated or likely to happen. Example: "Given the current trends in the market, a decline in sales must be expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This must be expected".

The New York Times - Sports

This indicates that perturbed ion distribution functions must be expected there.

Advances in Space Research

Some friction must be expected, but now more than ever a tolerant approach is needed.

The Guardian - Opinion

A degree of shared knowledge about the consequences must be expected.

The New York Times - Magazine

It is concluded that severe decreases in lifetimes must be expected for line widths below about 0.5 μm.

Acta Materialia

Based on the results, the chapter highlights that the permeability must be expected to increase significantly after excavation.

Numerical Modelling and Analysis of Fluid Flow and Deformation of Fractured Rock Masses

But as must be expected of drama, it captured the venality of Westminster well, but neglected the banality.

The Guardian

"Changes must be expected as a result of the change in ownership," said Stephen Rosen of Collyer Bristow.

The Guardian - Business

The same must be expected of all placements, as providers of children's homes representatives have long been arguing.

The Guardian

Hence, a second crossover at which superfluidity disappears when vortex pairs unbind must be expected at a higher temperature, T̃BKT.

Nature

More spectacular attacks in Kabul must be expected, and perhaps a greater effort to threaten Kandahar, the second-largest city.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "must be expected" to clearly convey that something is likely to occur based on current conditions or evidence. It's appropriate when outlining potential outcomes or consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "must be expected" when the outcome is only a possibility, not a strong likelihood. Overusing this phrase can create a false sense of inevitability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be expected" functions as a modal construction indicating a high degree of probability or inevitability. As Ludwig AI explains, it suggests that something is anticipated or very likely to occur based on the given circumstances. The examples in Ludwig demonstrate this use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

58%

News & Media

34%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "must be expected" is a grammatically correct and commonly used modal construction that expresses a high degree of probability or anticipation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Predominantly found in science, news, and academic contexts, it serves to inform and set expectations, often based on observable trends or past experiences. While versatile, it's important to avoid overstating certainty and consider alternative phrases like "should be anticipated" or "is likely to happen" for scenarios with lower probability. The sources analyzed show that it is important to avoid overstating the level of certainty when using the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should be anticipated

Replaces "must" with "should", softening the level of certainty while maintaining the sense of expectation.

is anticipated

A more concise and direct way of saying something is expected.

is to be anticipated

Emphasizes the anticipation with a more formal tone, using "is to be" instead of "must be".

can be foreseen

Focuses on the ability to predict something, using "foreseen" instead of "expected".

is likely to happen

Replaces the modal verb with a direct statement of probability.

it is reasonable to expect

Highlights the logical or rational basis for the expectation.

is bound to occur

Indicates inevitability, suggesting that something will definitely happen.

is predicted to happen

Emphasizes prediction or forecasting of an event.

one should anticipate

Shifts the focus to the individual who is anticipating, rather than the event itself.

it's only a matter of time

Emphasizes that the event is guaranteed to take place eventually.

FAQs

How can I use "must be expected" in a sentence?

You can use "must be expected" to indicate something is anticipated or very likely to happen. For example, "Given the circumstances, delays "must be expected"".

What is an alternative to "must be expected"?

Alternatives include "should be anticipated", "is likely to happen", or "is to be anticipated" depending on the context.

Is "must be expected" formal or informal?

"Must be expected" is generally considered neutral to formal and suitable for professional, academic, or news contexts. It's rarely used in very informal settings.

What is the difference between "must be expected" and "might be expected"?

"Must be expected" suggests a high degree of certainty, whereas "might be expected" implies a lower probability or a possibility, and is also similar in meaning to the phrase "could be expected".