should be dependable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should be dependable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing expectations regarding reliability or trustworthiness in a person, object, or system. Example: "In a team environment, each member should be dependable to ensure the project's success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But the choruses, the Long Island Symphonic Choral Society and the Gregg Smith Singers, both directed by the venerable Mr. Smith, should be dependable and then some.

The New York Times

But it is one of the great achievements of civilization and should be dependable as air.

Forbes

In addition to facilitating camp activities, counselors serve as role models and should be dependable, trustworthy, and show enthusiasm for their role.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Of all the guides, only Charles Campion's London Restaurant Guide is close to the ideal of what a guide should be – useful, dependable, keen and readable.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Emergency call centers serve people in utmost circumstances; hence they should be highly dependable.

Performance Evaluation

So a trust system should be highly dependable in terms of providing service in an open WSN environment.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

The motivation for such augmentation by replication is typically supported by an implicit (or explicit, but not justified) assumption: that a replicated system should be more dependable than a single node, namely that it should have less likelihood of failing (or be failed in) its mission.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Ben Zobrist should be a dependable leadoff hitter, assuming he gets the nod.

Los Angeles Times

Most of us grew up believing that another person should be our dependable source of love - that this is what a relationship is all about.

Huffington Post

Shouldn't a restaurant of this ilk be dependable for ribs that are meaty and succulent?

The New York Times - Food

A typical protection system is designed to be dependable (to trip whenever it should) at the expense of security (not to trip whenever it should not) [2].

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should be dependable", ensure the context clearly defines what the subject is expected to be dependable for. For example, "A backup system should be dependable for data recovery."

Common error

Avoid using "should be dependable" in excessively broad contexts without specifying the area of expected dependability. Instead of saying "Employees should be dependable", specify "Employees should be dependable in meeting deadlines and fulfilling their responsibilities."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be dependable" functions as a way to express an expectation or requirement for something to be reliable and trustworthy. Ludwig indicates this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "should be dependable" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to convey an expectation or requirement for reliability and trustworthiness. Ludwig provides several examples across various contexts, including news, wiki, and science. It is advisable to specify the area of expected dependability to avoid overgeneralization. Related phrases include "ought to be reliable" and "must be trustworthy". The phrase maintains a neutral register and is frequently found in news and media, wiki articles, and scientific publications. According to Ludwig, the phrase is suitable for expressing expectations of reliability in various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to be dependable

Substitutes "should" with "ought to", indicating a sense of duty.

should be reliable

A direct synonym, with a slightly more general meaning.

needs to be dependable

Focuses on the need or requirement for dependability.

has to be dependable

Indicates a strong necessity for being dependable.

should be trustworthy

Similar to reliable, but emphasizes honesty and integrity.

ought to be reliable

Implies a moral obligation or expectation of reliability.

is expected to be dependable

Focuses on the expectation of being dependable.

must be trustworthy

Emphasizes the importance of being worthy of trust.

needs to be consistent

Focuses on the consistency aspect of dependability.

has to be accountable

Highlights the aspect of taking responsibility.

FAQs

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

You can use "should be dependable" to express an expectation of reliability. For example, "The software should be dependable for accurate data processing."

What's a more formal way to say "should be dependable"?

A more formal way to express the same idea is "ought to be reliable" or "must be trustworthy".

Is there a difference between "should be dependable" and "should be reliable"?

While similar, "should be reliable" is more general. "Should be dependable" often implies a specific task or duty, while "reliable" can refer to overall consistency and performance.

What does it mean when something "should be dependable"?

It means that something is expected to perform consistently and reliably in a particular task or function. It conveys an expectation of trustworthiness and consistency over time.