ought to cover

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ought to cover" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a recommendation or obligation regarding what should be included or addressed in a particular context. Example: "The report ought to cover all relevant aspects of the project to ensure a comprehensive understanding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

which they ought to cover.

Yale University

Two of these ought to cover the shredded meat (save the rest for soup).

The New York Times - Magazine

His face is so beautiful he ought to cover it, too, Mr. Abdullah said.

The New York Times

Some opponents say existing taxes ought to cover the cost of new roads and lane widening.

The Washington Post

The battery now plays music for at least 24 hours, which ought to cover your morning jog.

The New York Times - Tech

Mr Van Rompuy thinks the banking union ought to cover the whole of the EU to avoid fragmenting Europe's single market in financial services.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

The cost of building transmission lines to connect new power plants to the grid ought to be covered the way we cover it in the Northeast, by folding it into the price of the power that the lines deliver.

The New York Times

We need a robust debate in the U.S. about what kind of health interventions ought to be covered by insurance, which should be partially covered, and which should be solely left up to consumers to pay for out of pocket.

Forbes

Some states are considering cuts deep enough to extend to children, the one group that politicians of all stripes agreed ought to be covered in the 1990's.

The New York Times

Hearing aids are expensive, and ought to be covered by insurance.

Harvard University

... We really feel this is an appropriate intervention that ought to be covered," Schuchat said.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ought to cover", ensure it clearly indicates a recommendation or expected inclusion, avoiding ambiguity about whether something is mandatory or merely advisable.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "ought to" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for "should" or "needs to" for a more natural tone in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ought to cover" functions as a modal verb phrase to express a sense of duty, obligation, or recommendation. It suggests what should be included or addressed, as seen in Ludwig's examples from news, academic and formal sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

26%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ought to cover" is a grammatically sound modal verb phrase that expresses a sense of recommendation or expectation. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is most commonly found in news, academic, and formal business contexts. While the phrase is suitable for professional and formal writing, it can be replaced by alternatives such as "should include" or "needs to encompass" to adjust the tone or formality. While "ought to cover" is correct, remember to check the tone of the context and if it needs to denote a strong requirement/obligation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should include

Replaces "ought to" with the more common "should", simplifying the phrasing.

needs to encompass

Uses a more formal and comprehensive verb, "encompass", for a broader scope.

is required to address

Emphasizes the necessity of addressing specific points or issues.

must take into account

Highlights the importance of considering certain factors.

is expected to deal with

Indicates an anticipated or customary handling of a topic.

has to comprise

Uses "comprise" to denote the elements that should be part of a whole.

is advised to consider

Offers a suggestion to think about particular aspects.

would benefit from including

Suggests that adding certain elements would be advantageous.

is recommended to incorporate

Suggests integrating specific aspects to improve completeness.

should be inclusive of

Emphasizes that certain elements should not be excluded.

FAQs

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

You can use "ought to cover" to express a recommendation or expectation. For example, "The report "ought to cover" all relevant aspects of the project."

What is a less formal alternative to "ought to cover"?

Less formal alternatives include phrases like "should include", "needs to cover", or "should address" depending on the context. These alternatives maintain a similar meaning while sounding more conversational.

Is there a difference between "ought to cover" and "must cover"?

"Ought to cover" suggests a strong recommendation or expectation, while "must cover" indicates a requirement or obligation. "Must cover" is more forceful and leaves less room for discretion.

What are some contexts where "ought to cover" is commonly used?

"Ought to cover" is frequently used in professional, academic, and journalistic writing to suggest the scope or content that a report, analysis, or discussion should include. For example, "The investigation "ought to cover" all potential leads."