ought to change

USAGE SUMMARY

"ought to change" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to make a suggestion that something should be changed. For example, "Given the current circumstances, the way we handle this situation ought to change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"The day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, 'Senator, we ought to change the policy,' then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it,' " he said then.

The New York Times

This despite the fact that he once declared that: "the day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, 'Senator, we ought to change the policy,' then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it".

Huffington Post

Back in 2006, Senator McCain said, "The day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, 'Senator, we ought to change the policy,' then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it".

Huffington Post

Also consistent is that part where he says, "The day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, 'Senator, we ought to change the policy', then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it".

Huffington Post

"The day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, 'Senator, we ought to change the policy,' then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it," he said at the time.

Huffington Post

One group was informed that they ought to change answers they had given with the explanation that when in doubt, changing an answer once is statistically beneficial.

BMC Medical Education

Considering the very nature of vehicular transport is changing, it stands to reason that the all-important cluster of gauges and warning lights ought to change as well.

TechCrunch

"Amsterdam" ought to change that.

The New York Times - Books

And our attitude ought to change.

The New York Times

Stanley Works ought to change its name to Stanley Flees.

The New York Times

"You either ought to change the regime, or you ought to do nothing," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ought to change" to express a recommendation or suggestion for improvement, particularly when emphasizing a moral or logical obligation. It's often used in formal contexts to soften the tone of the suggestion.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "ought to change" can sound overly formal in casual conversations. In informal settings, consider using alternatives like "should change" or "needs to change" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ought to change" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a recommendation, advisability, or moral obligation for something to be different. Ludwig shows that this phrase is commonly used across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ought to change" is a modal verb phrase used to suggest that something should be different, indicating a recommendation or a moral obligation. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and usable phrase in written English, often employed in neutral to formal contexts, especially within news and media. While its formality may make it less suitable for casual conversations, it remains a valuable tool for expressing reasoned suggestions and advocating for improvements in professional and academic settings. Alternatives like "should be modified" or "needs to be altered" can be used depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should be modified

Implies a necessity for alteration, maintaining a formal tone.

needs to be altered

Highlights the requirement for a specific change.

must be adjusted

Emphasizes a mandatory adjustment or correction.

has to be revised

Suggests a necessary review and subsequent modification.

is advised to transform

Indicates that a transformation would be beneficial and is encouraged.

it's recommended to adapt

Implies a general recommendation for adaptation based on given information.

it would be better to shift

Suggests that a shift is preferable to the current situation.

it might be wise to convert

Implies a strategic conversion based on insightful consideration.

it could benefit from evolution

Suggests potential improvement through an evolutionary process.

it may be time to innovate

Points to a possible need for innovative changes.

FAQs

How can I use "ought to change" in a sentence?

Use "ought to change" to express a suggestion or recommendation for something to be different. For example, "The company's policies "ought to change" to reflect the current market conditions."

What are some alternatives to "ought to change"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "should be modified", "needs to be altered", or "must be adjusted" as alternatives to "ought to change".

Is "ought to change" more formal than "should change"?

Yes, "ought to change" generally carries a more formal tone than "should change". "Should change" is more commonly used in everyday conversation, while "ought to change" is often preferred in formal writing or when emphasizing a sense of duty or moral obligation.

When is it appropriate to use "ought to change" instead of "must change"?

"Ought to change" suggests a recommendation or what is advisable, whereas "must change" indicates a strict necessity or requirement. Use "ought to change" when suggesting an improvement, and "must change" when something is essential or mandatory.