should be caught

USAGE SUMMARY

"should be caught" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a passive construction used to express a suggestion or expectation that something should be captured or apprehended. It is often used in formal or polite language. Example: The thief should be caught and brought to justice for his crimes.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

If there's cheating in sport, you should be caught.

The New York Times - Sports

I agree that benefit cheats should be caught.

The Guardian - Opinion

No one should be caught off guard, is the well-intentioned argument.

The Guardian - Opinion

Seeing "Betrayal," a theatergoer should be caught up in the mystery, wondering who knew what and when.

The New York Times

Scientists, politicians, industry groups and activists spend a lot of time arguing over how much bluefin tuna should be caught in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas.

The Economist

Mike Cameron's addition allows us to have Jacoby Ellsbury in left, and you would think, particularly in Fenway, any ball that doesn't hit that wall should be caught.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

This is Mexico as it should be – catch it while you can.

The Guardian - Travel

Innocent civilians should not be caught in such politicized limbo.

The New York Times

We should not be caught asleep on this watch.

The Guardian

Should they be caught, Smalls acknowledged to his wife, the outcome was assured.

The New York Times

Wildlife activists argued the predator wasn't a man-eater and shouldn't be caught.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should be caught", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what needs to be apprehended. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the subject and reason.

Common error

Avoid using "should be caught" when an active construction is more appropriate. For instance, instead of "The thief should be caught by the police", a more direct statement is "The police should catch the thief".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be caught" primarily functions as a passive modal construction, expressing a recommendation, obligation, or expectation that someone or something needs to be apprehended. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "should be caught" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to express an expectation or recommendation for apprehension. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it's a passive modal phrase used frequently in news and media, as well as in less formal contexts like wikis. It is essential to ensure clarity when using this phrase, specifying the subject and reason for apprehension. While alternatives like ""ought to be apprehended"" exist, "should be caught" remains a versatile and widely understood choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to be apprehended

Replaces "should" with "ought to", emphasizing a moral obligation.

needs to be captured

Substitutes "caught" with "captured", highlighting the act of taking into possession.

must be apprehended

Replaces "should" with "must", indicating a stronger sense of necessity.

has to be caught

Uses "has to be" instead of "should be", conveying a requirement.

is required to be caught

Emphasizes the necessity through a more formal phrasing.

is expected to be caught

Focuses on the expectation of apprehension.

is supposed to be caught

Indicates an assumption or plan for capture.

should be apprehended and detained

Adds "and detained" to specify the action following capture.

it is imperative that they are caught

Rephrases to highlight the importance of catching someone or something.

it is essential that they be captured

Highlights the necessity using "essential" for emphasis.

FAQs

How can I use "should be caught" in a sentence?

Use "should be caught" to express that someone or something needs to be apprehended, like in the sentence "Benefit cheats "should be caught"".

What is a synonym for "should be caught"?

A synonym for "should be caught" is "ought to be apprehended", which implies a moral obligation.

Is it better to use "should be caught" or "must be caught"?

While both are grammatically correct, "must be caught" expresses a stronger degree of necessity than "should be caught". The choice depends on the context and the level of urgency you want to convey.

What does it mean when something "should have been caught"?

Saying something "should have been caught" implies that an error or mistake was missed earlier. For example, "This should have been caught earlier".