should be equal to

USAGE SUMMARY

"should be equal to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that two or more things should have the same or similar value. For example, "The amount spent by each participant should be equal to the cost of the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many women think we should be equal to men.

The Guardian - Books

Measurements should be equal to or less than the maximum dimensions given in the standards.

Cornell University

Should be equal to 0, good, and we should just check the second order condition.

Yale University

The vent area should be equal to a fifth of the floor area.

Independent

"The position should be equal to the C.E.O.'s other direct reports.

The New York Times

Berdych is his immediate challenge and he should be equal to it, perhaps in four tough sets.

The Guardian - Sport

So in the case of an ideal bottle, the rate of decay should be equal to the beta decay rate.

MIT Technology Review

Any time you use the weighting scheme, the sum of the weights should be equal to one.

Harvard University

where (mathop limits ^!) indicates "should be equal to".

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

NOTE: funding from an outside source should be equal to at least 50% of tuition expenses.

University of Chicago

Importantly, border price and domestic production cost should be equal to an 'ideal' competitive market.

Journal of Economic Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should be equal to" in technical writing, ensure that units of measurement are consistent to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "should be equal to" when you actually mean "should be correlated with". Equality implies a direct equivalence, whereas correlation suggests a relationship or pattern.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be equal to" functions as a predicate phrase, expressing a requirement, expectation, or ideal state where two entities or values are equivalent. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

13%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "should be equal to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote an expected or required equivalence across various domains. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability. Its prevalence in scientific and academic contexts suggests a formal or neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure you're expressing a genuine expectation of equivalence rather than just a correlation. Consider alternatives like "must be equivalent to" or "needs to be the same as" for subtle shifts in meaning. Understanding its precise function enhances clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

must be equivalent to

Replaces "should" with "must", emphasizing the necessity of the equivalence.

is required to be equal to

Adds a formal tone specifying a requirement for equality.

ought to be equivalent to

Substitutes "should" with "ought to", indicating moral or logical obligation.

needs to be the same as

Uses simpler language to convey the idea of equality.

is expected to match

Focuses on the anticipated correspondence between two entities.

has to be identical to

Highlights the necessity of complete sameness.

should correspond with

Implies a matching or alignment between two things.

should align with

Suggests a proper arrangement to be in agreement

should be consistent with

Emphasizes the need for compatibility or agreement.

is anticipated to equal

Highlights the expectation of reaching a specific level or degree

FAQs

How can I use "should be equal to" in a sentence?

Use "should be equal to" to express a required or expected equivalence between two values or quantities. For instance, "The total income "should be equal to" the total expenses".

What are some alternatives to "should be equal to"?

Alternatives include "must be equivalent to", "is required to be equal to", or "needs to be the same as", depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is it always necessary to use "should be equal to" when expressing equivalence?

No, simpler expressions like "must equal" or "needs to be" can often suffice. However, "should be equal to" adds a nuance of expectation or recommendation that may be suitable in certain contexts.

How does "should be equal to" differ from "is equal to"?

"Is equal to" states a fact, while "should be equal to" expresses an expectation, requirement, or ideal condition. For example, "The theoretical value "should be equal to" the experimental result" indicates a desired or predicted outcome, unlike stating a confirmed equality.