ought to kept

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ought to kept" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "ought to be kept"? You can use the corrected phrase when expressing a recommendation or obligation regarding something that should be maintained or preserved. Example: "The documents ought to be kept in a secure location to ensure their safety."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

No human arrangement can guarantee perfection, but if perfection is not possible, then the number of errors ought to kept as low as possible.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

You ought to keep him chained up".

The New Yorker

The house, in my opinion, ought to keep me.

The New Yorker

This Kromer ought to keep in mind, yet didn't.

The New Yorker

That ought to keep the bots confused for a while.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I ought to keep my mouth shut," he said.

The New Yorker

"I just think a man ought to keep his word.

The New York Times

A glut of capital ought to keep things affordable for borrowers and increase liquidity.

The Economist

And so I think we ought to keep on the track that we are on".

The New York Times

Publicity alone, he thought, ought to keep the place afloat for a while.

The New Yorker

Meanwhile, insurers ought to keep paying for women who are already in that category.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to express obligation or advisability, ensure the phrase "ought to" is followed by "be" when using the passive voice. For example, "The files ought to be kept secure."

Common error

Avoid using "ought to" directly with a past participle. The correct structure in the passive voice requires "be" (e.g., "ought to be kept"). Using "ought to kept" is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ought to kept" incorrectly attempts to combine the auxiliary verb "ought to" with a past participle without the necessary "be" to form a passive construction. Ludwig AI reports this usage as incorrect. The only example provided includes the typo.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ought to kept" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form requires the inclusion of "be" between "ought to" and the past participle (e.g., "ought to be kept"). Ludwig AI identifies this usage as incorrect. When expressing obligation or advisability, make sure to include the "be" to form passive voice correctly. Consider alternatives such as "should be kept" or "must be kept" to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy. The current available data indicates that "ought to kept" is rarely used, and when it appears, it is generally in the context of News & Media but as a mistake.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to be kept

Corrects the grammar by adding "be", making it passive voice.

should be kept

Replaces "ought to" with "should", maintaining a similar level of obligation but with correct grammar.

should have been kept

Expresses a past obligation with the action not being completed, uses correct grammar.

needed to be kept

Indicates a necessity for something to be maintained, restructuring the sentence for grammatical accuracy.

must be kept

Conveys a stronger sense of obligation, using "must" instead of "ought to", while maintaining grammatical correctness.

has to be kept

Indicates an obligation with passive voice but with a slight difference in tone.

are to be kept

A formal way of saying something is expected to be maintained.

ought to maintain

Replaces passive form "to be kept" with active form "to maintain".

must maintain

A strong and direct way to express the necessity of keeping something.

required to be kept

This alternative phrase express the condition of being required of maintaining something.

FAQs

What is the correct grammatical structure when using "ought to" with a past participle?

When using "ought to" with a past participle, always include "be" to form the passive voice correctly. The correct structure is "ought to be" + past participle (e.g., "ought to be kept").

What can I say instead of "ought to kept" to maintain a similar meaning?

Instead of "ought to kept", you can use alternatives like "ought to be kept", "should be kept", or "must be kept" depending on the context.

Is "ought to kept" ever grammatically correct?

No, "ought to kept" is not grammatically correct. The correct form requires the inclusion of "be" before the past participle (e.g., "ought to be kept").

What is the difference between "ought to be kept" and "should be kept"?

"Ought to be kept" and "should be kept" both express a recommendation or obligation. "Ought to" is generally considered slightly more formal or carrying a stronger sense of moral duty than "should" but they are largely interchangeable. You can use must be kept to convey a stronger sense of obligation