should be contended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should be contended" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when arguing or asserting that a particular point or claim needs to be debated or challenged. Example: "In this discussion, it should be contended that the proposed policy may have unintended consequences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Bonerman26 exists; his vileness should be contended with.

The New Yorker

The trend of state governments balancing their budgets on the backs of students should be contended against.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

We should be contending with counterfeit gestalt (Gesamtkunstpatch, in cabbage-patch terms).

The New Yorker

"We should be contending for another Sunset League title and a run in the CIF playoffs". Returning players: Dan Jimenez (1B, first-team all-league, Sr.); Tyler Clouse (2B, Sr.); John Goldsby (OF, Sr.); Turner Clouse (P/OF, Jr.); Mike Tucker (P/OF, Sr.); Zack Milan (P, all-league, Jr.).

Los Angeles Times

"But we're at a stage now with our pitching and our offense, there's no reason we shouldn't be contending for a playoff spot.

The New York Times - Sports

Water utilities, while agreeing that the rules should be tightened, contended that this level of control would cost about four times more than the agency said and that the health benefits were not worth such an effort.

The New York Times

It is contended that we should dismiss this action on the ground that the Attorney General has not been granted power either to file or to maintain it.

Cornell University

Lawyers for the charitable trust that controls Hershey Foods argued in a Pennsylvania court yesterday that a temporary injunction preventing the trust from selling the company should be overturned, contending that the injunction prevents the trustees from carrying out their obligation.

The New York Times

[Page C2.] Hershey Trust Appeals Injunction Lawyers for the charitable trust that controls Hershey Foods argued in a Pennsylvania court that a temporary injunction preventing the trust from selling the company should be overturned, contending that the injunction prevents the trustees from carrying out their obligation.

The New York Times

Nathan Heller, who called the who/whom distinction "glorious" and "simple" in a New Yorker book review criticising Steven Pinker, himself made a classic whom hypercorrection in another article:   But what about Sir Isaac Newton, whom some contend was autistic?That should be who some contend was autistic.

The Economist

For that reason, the lawsuit should be dismissed, Randazza contended.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "should be contended" when you want to emphasize that a particular point of view or argument requires a counter-argument or challenge. It is suitable in academic or formal contexts where critical analysis is expected.

Common error

Avoid using "should be contended" in casual conversation or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "should be challenged" or "needs to be questioned" in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be contended" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing the necessity or advisability of challenging or disputing a particular idea, argument, or situation. It often introduces a viewpoint that requires critical analysis or opposition, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should be contended" is a modal verb phrase indicating that a specific idea or argument requires a challenge or dispute. While grammatically correct, as indicated by Ludwig AI, it is a rare expression, primarily used in formal contexts such as news and media and academia. When you use this phrase, you are asserting that something needs to be questioned and potentially opposed. Alternative expressions such as "should be challenged" or "needs to be addressed" may be more appropriate in less formal settings. While the phrase is valid, choose it mindfully based on your audience and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should be challenged

Replaces "contended" with "challenged", focusing on questioning the validity of something.

should be confronted

Suggests facing a problem or challenge directly and assertively.

should be disputed

Uses "disputed" to emphasize disagreement or debate about a claim.

should be questioned

Emphasizes the act of inquiring into the truth or validity of something.

should be refuted

Implies the act of proving something wrong or false through evidence.

ought to be opposed

Employs "ought to be opposed" to suggest a moral or ethical imperative to resist.

must be resisted

Highlights the necessity of actively fighting against something.

must be combatted

Indicates a need to actively fight against or suppress something harmful.

needs to be debated

Focuses on the necessity of discussing different sides of an issue.

needs to be addressed

Shifts the focus to resolving or dealing with an issue, rather than directly contesting it.

FAQs

How to use "should be contended" in a sentence?

Use "should be contended" when you want to express that a specific viewpoint or argument warrants a challenge or debate. For instance, "It "should be contended" that this policy has unintended consequences."

What can I say instead of "should be contended"?

You can use alternatives like "should be challenged", "needs to be addressed", or "must be resisted" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "should be contended" or "should be argued"?

Both ""should be contended"" and "should be argued" are grammatically correct. "Should be contended" suggests that something needs to be disputed or challenged, while "should be argued" implies that something needs to be supported with reasoning.

What's the difference between "should be contended" and "should be confronted"?

"Should be contended" implies a need for intellectual opposition or debate, while "should be confronted" suggests facing a problem or challenge directly.