should be concealed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should be concealed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that ought to be hidden or kept out of sight for various reasons, such as privacy or security. Example: "Sensitive information should be concealed to protect the privacy of individuals involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Even worse, they don't learn from their mistakes, because if, God forbid, one occurs, it should be concealed like a nasty secret.

The New York Times

On the question of whether both eyes and part of the cheek of a woman should be concealed, a fatwa orders that "it is necessary for her to cover her two eyes… with something delicate".

Independent

That aspects of the religion of a devout president of the United States should be concealed from all but 2 percent of us may be a legitimate question that merits pondering.

The New York Times

A British official had suggested last year that the loophole should be concealed from parliament in case it "complicated or muddied" the debate among MPs, according to the leaked American account of a private meeting.

The Guardian

Whitehall officials proposed that a specially created loophole to grant the US a free hand should be concealed from parliament in case it "complicated or muddied" the MPs' debate.

The Guardian

When he gave us the documents he provided, he repeatedly insisted that we exercise rigorous journalistic judgment in deciding which documents should be published in the public interest and which ones should be concealed on the ground that the harm of publication outweighs the public value.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

But the stiletto it should be concealing seems to have gotten lost on the way to the third act, when the sharp humor turns into a dull, blunt drama that lets everyone off the hook.

The New York Times

"It shouldn't be concealed as part of a fairly different whole".

The New York Times - Arts

When he died, our mother took us in to see him, and one of us said, 'Now we can have Johnny's whistle.' Death should not be concealed from children.

The New Yorker

You're in a different country, and you're renting rather than buying, but the ethical idea still holds: information needed to make an informed choice should not be concealed but offered voluntarily.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It should not be concealed that the Catholic Church was blind for too long to the fate and suffering of men, women and children from the whole of Europe who were carted off to Germany as forced laborers," Cardinal Karl Lehmann said at the presentation of the report.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should be concealed", ensure the reason for concealment is clear to the reader. This adds context and strengthens your argument.

Common error

While "should be concealed" is grammatically sound, overuse of passive voice can make your writing seem weak. Consider active alternatives where appropriate for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be concealed" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing necessity or recommendation. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and is employed to indicate that something ought to be hidden or kept secret. It suggests a degree of obligation or advisability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "should be concealed" is a grammatically sound modal verb phrase used to express the need or recommendation that something be kept hidden or secret. According to Ludwig, it appears correctly in various contexts such as news, scientific articles and general writing, generally conveying a tone of advisability or obligation. It is more often seen in News & Media and Science contexts, confirming its usage in neutral to formal registers. While common, it's worth noting that diversifying your writing with alternatives like "ought to be hidden" or "needs to be kept secret" can enhance clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to be hidden

Emphasizes a moral obligation or advisability of concealing something.

needs to be kept secret

Highlights the necessity of maintaining secrecy.

must be kept from view

Focuses on physically hiding something from sight.

is required to be masked

Suggests a formal or mandated need for concealment.

is advisable to obscure

Indicates that obscuring something is the recommended course of action.

is better left unrevealed

Implies that revealing something would be detrimental.

should remain undisclosed

Stresses the importance of not making something known.

is recommended to be covered up

Suggests a pragmatic reason for hiding something, often to avoid negative consequences.

has to be sheltered

Focuses on protecting something by concealing it.

warrants being shrouded

Indicates that something deserves to be hidden or protected from scrutiny.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "should be concealed"?

Use "should be concealed" when something needs to be hidden or kept secret, either for privacy, security, or strategic reasons. Examples include concealing sensitive data or hiding flaws in a product.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "should be concealed"?

You can use alternatives like "ought to be hidden", "needs to be kept secret", or "must be kept from view" depending on the context.

Is "should be concealed" a formal or informal phrase?

"Should be concealed" is a neutral to formal phrase suitable for a variety of contexts, including professional, academic, and news reporting. Its formality depends on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.

How does the use of "should be concealed" impact the tone of a sentence?

Using "should be concealed" often lends a tone of necessity or advisability to the sentence. It suggests a reasoned or ethical imperative for keeping something hidden, influencing how the reader perceives the information.