she should know

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she should know" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to express an expectation or belief that someone has certain knowledge or understanding. Example: "As a doctor, she should know the importance of taking proper care of her health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Well, she should know.

Independent

And she should know.

The New York Times

She should know better.

The Guardian - Opinion

"But she should know the best runners".

The New York Times - Sports

She should know better, she said.

The New York Times

She should know her place.

The New Yorker

They are and she should know.

The New York Times

She should know: she lives there.

The New York Times

She should know, she said, being 82.

The New York Times

I know it's sexist, but she should know better.

The New York Times

As a victim of it herself, she should know.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she should know" to express an expectation based on someone's role, experience, or knowledge, such as, "As a teacher, she should know how to handle classroom disruptions effectively."

Common error

Avoid using "she should know" when there's no logical reason to expect the person to have the information. For example, instead of saying "She should know my password", which implies an unreasonable expectation, consider "I need to tell her my password".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she should know" functions as a modal construction expressing expectation or assumed knowledge. It implies that, given certain circumstances or a person's background, it's reasonable to believe they possess specific information. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and common usage of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Wiki

6%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she should know" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase for expressing an expectation or assumption about someone's knowledge. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, this phrase serves to highlight a reasonable expectation of awareness. While alternatives exist to convey similar meanings, "she should know" remains a straightforward and effective way to imply that someone ought to possess particular information, given their background, expertise, or circumstances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she ought to know

Replaces "should" with "ought to", conveying a slightly stronger sense of obligation or moral correctness.

she must know

Emphasizes a higher degree of certainty or necessity in her knowing something.

she has to know

Indicates a necessity for her to possess the knowledge, similar to "must know".

she's expected to know

Highlights the expectation that she possesses the knowledge, often by others.

she is supposed to know

Similar to "expected to know", but can also imply a rule or regulation.

it stands to reason she knows

Shifts the focus to the logical inference that she possesses the knowledge.

it is reasonable to assume she knows

Expresses a logical deduction that she possesses the knowledge.

presumably, she is aware

Introduces an element of assumption about her awareness.

she'd be aware

Suggests a conditional awareness, often dependent on certain circumstances.

she is certainly informed

Implies a strong belief that she possesses the required information.

FAQs

How can I use "she should know" in a sentence?

Use "she should know" to indicate an expectation of knowledge based on someone's experience or position. For example, "As a lawyer, "she should know" the relevant laws".

What's a more formal way to say "she should know"?

A more formal alternative to "she should know" is "she ought to know", which carries a stronger sense of obligation or correctness.

Is it correct to say "she must know" instead of "she should know"?

While "she must know" can be used, it expresses a stronger sense of certainty or necessity than "she should know", which implies a reasonable expectation.

What can I say instead of "she should know" to express uncertainty?

To express uncertainty, you could use "presumably, she is aware" or "it is reasonable to assume she knows" instead of "she should know".