ought to come

USAGE SUMMARY

"ought to come" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to express a recommendation or expectation regarding someone's arrival or participation. Example: "She ought to come to the meeting to share her insights." Alternative expressions include "should come" and "must come."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

You ought to come out to California.

The New York Times - Magazine

I think that ought to come out".

The New Yorker

I really think you ought to come".

The Guardian

Perhaps it ought to come with a Purple Heart.

The New York Times

On one level this ought to come as no surprise.

The Guardian - Opinion

Leadership, then, ought to come from somewhere else.

The Guardian

It ought to come with a bulb of garlic.

The New Yorker

And theorists believed that, for maximum effect, the Fed's decisions ought to come as a surprise.

The New Yorker

John Kerry, the Democratic nominee in 2004, says that the fairness doctrine ought to come back.

The Economist

The women in Elissa Schappell's new story collection ought to come with a warning label.

The New York Times - Books

Still, fees ought to come down - the performance hasn't been there.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ought to come" when you want to express a sense of moral obligation or advisability. It's stronger than "should come" but less forceful than "must come".

Common error

Avoid using "ought to come" as a direct command. While it implies obligation, it's generally more appropriate for recommendations or expectations, not explicit orders.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ought to come" functions as a modal verb phrase, indicating a sense of obligation, advisability, or expectation. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts ranging from personal invitations to policy recommendations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ought to come" is a versatile modal verb phrase used to express expectation, recommendation, or moral obligation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence in news and media. While stronger than "should come", it's less forceful than "must come", making it suitable for a range of contexts. When writing, ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is expected to arrive to avoid ambiguity. Keep in mind that it's more fitting for suggestions or expectations than direct commands. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use "ought to come" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should arrive

Replaces "ought to" with "should", indicating a weaker sense of obligation or expectation.

is supposed to come

Implies a prior arrangement or agreement about coming.

should be here

Focuses on the expected location rather than the action of coming.

is due to arrive

Suggests an expected or scheduled time of arrival.

is slated to arrive

Indicates a scheduled or planned arrival.

is expected to arrive

Uses a passive construction to emphasize the expectation of arrival.

needs to be present

Highlights the necessity of being in a particular place.

must attend

Emphasizes the obligation to be present, often in a formal setting.

is required to appear

Stresses a formal requirement or obligation to be present.

it is advisable to attend

Suggests that attending would be a good idea.

FAQs

How does "ought to come" differ from "should come"?

"Ought to come" carries a slightly stronger sense of moral obligation or duty compared to "should come", which is often used for general recommendations.

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

"Ought to come" is suitable when expressing advisability or expectation, while "must come" is used for situations requiring strict necessity or obligation.

What are some alternatives to "ought to come" for expressing expectation?

You can use alternatives like "is expected to arrive", "is due to arrive", or "is supposed to come" depending on the context.

Is "ought to come" formal or informal?

"Ought to come" is generally considered neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it leans slightly towards formal compared to phrases like "gonna come".