ought to be moved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ought to be moved" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when suggesting that something should be relocated or changed in position for a specific reason. Example: "The furniture in this room ought to be moved to create more space for activities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

It's not... good statuary – it ought to be moved".

The Guardian

The UNHCR said that Kosovar refugees ought to be moved out of overcrowded camps.

The Economist

A lawyer representing inmates argued that 3,250 of the 8,100 inmates at the prisons ought to be moved immediately to prevent further deaths.

Independent

Earlier this year, John Fredriksen, the main shareholder in Marine Harvest, the world's largest salmon farming company, said that salmon farms ought to be moved away from wild salmon runs.A better, although more expensive, solution would be to make fish farms self-contained.

The Economist

Luke Jenkins' father, Stephen, told an inquest into the boy's death that he could not persuade staff at Bristol Royal children's hospital that his son ought to be moved to intensive care, even though Luke was suffering severe bleeding, losing almost a pint of blood in one day alone.

The Guardian

The report said: "The Metropolitan police have a wide remit which has many complexities and the current difficulties faced by the organisation lead us to believe that the responsibility for counter-terrorism ought to be moved to the National Crime Agency in order to allow the Met to focus on the basics of policing London".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

As journalism moves to the Internet, the main project ought to be moving reporters there, not stripping them away.

The New Yorker

"I've tried to talk to them about the issues that we ought to be moving forward on, like out-of-control spending".

The New York Times

To those who have suggested that the recovery ought to be moving more quickly, he said, "They underestimate the magnitude of the problem".

The New York Times

He wrote recently in The New Yorker, "As journalism moves to the Internet, the main project ought to be moving reporters there, not stripping them away".

The New York Times

A. When you look at situation in the world today, the physicists, the biologists, the ecologists, we all pretty much know what's wrong in general terms, particularly with the environment, and we know what direction we ought to be moving in, but we don't have much of a clue about how to get there.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ought to be moved", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is recommending or necessitating the move. This adds clarity and strength to your statement.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "ought to be moved" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "should be moved" or "needs to be moved" for everyday contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ought to be moved" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing recommendation or obligation regarding relocation. It combines the modal verb 'ought' with the passive infinitive 'to be moved'. Ludwig confirms this usage, highlighting its correctness in suggesting relocation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ought to be moved" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a recommendation or suggestion for relocation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for contexts where a more formal tone is appropriate. Although not as common as alternatives like "should be moved", it is readily understood and conveys a sense of advisability or necessity. Its use is most frequent in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. When writing, consider whether a simpler or more direct alternative might better suit the intended audience and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should be relocated

Replaces "ought to" with the more common "should be", indicating a recommendation for relocation.

needs to be repositioned

Uses "needs to be" instead of "ought to be", focusing on the necessity of changing the position.

should be displaced

Suggests the act of moving from a current location, using more formal vocabulary.

requires relocation

Emphasizes the requirement for moving, using a noun phrase instead of a verb phrase.

is advised to be shifted

Highlights the advice or recommendation to move something, using passive voice.

it's advisable to transfer

Indicates that a transfer is advisable, focusing on the action of moving from one place to another.

the best course is to relocate

Focuses on relocation as the optimal course of action, using a more descriptive sentence structure.

would benefit from being relocated

Explains that the subject would improve by being moved, using conditional language.

a change in location is recommended

Highlights the recommendation for a change in location, using a passive construction.

it is better to transfer

Suggests that transfer is a superior course of action

FAQs

What does "ought to be moved" mean?

The phrase "ought to be moved" suggests that something should be relocated or changed in position, implying a sense of duty or recommendation.

What can I say instead of "ought to be moved"?

You can use alternatives like "should be relocated", "needs to be repositioned", or "requires relocation" depending on the context.

Is "ought to be moved" formal or informal?

The phrase "ought to be moved" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "should be moved" or "needs to be moved".

How do I use "ought to be moved" in a sentence?

Use "ought to be moved" when you want to express a recommendation or suggestion for relocating something. For example, "The statue in front of the building ought to be moved to a more suitable location".