should be increased

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should be increased" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to express a recommendation or suggestion for something to be made bigger or higher in amount, size, or level. Here are a few examples: 1. The minimum wage should be increased to help working families make ends meet. 2. To improve air quality, funding for public transportation should be increased. 3. In order to attract top talent, salaries for employees should be increased. 4. To promote healthier eating habits, access to fresh fruits and vegetables should be increased in low-income communities. 5. The company's marketing budget should be increased to reach a wider audience.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Coverage should be increased whenever a house is remodeled.

The New York Times

Subsidies should be increased, and their role emphasized.

The New Yorker

Capital requirements, she added, "should be increased dramatically".

The New York Times

Funding should be increased to match that spent in secondaries on extra staffing.

The Guardian

All parties recognise that the state pension age should be increased.

The Guardian - Opinion

"He went to management and said his salary should be increased".

The New Yorker

Fines for trespassing should be increased, and the authorities should be allowed to impound vehicles.

The New York Times

"If you ask my view I think it should be increased".

The Guardian - Sport

In euro-area economies and in Japan, competition in product and labor markets should be increased.

The New York Times

■ Investment should be increased in innovation aimed at improving renewable clean energy generation.

The Guardian

But overall spending in this area should be increased, not decreased.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should be increased", specify clearly what is being increased and why. This provides context and strengthens the recommendation.

Common error

Avoid using "should be increased" without a clear subject. For instance, instead of saying "Efforts should be increased", specify "Efforts to reduce carbon emissions should be increased".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be increased" primarily functions as a modal passive construction, expressing a recommendation or suggestion that something ought to be made larger or greater. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should be increased" is a versatile phrase used to recommend or suggest that something needs to be made larger or greater. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and very common across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. When employing this phrase, clarity and context are key to avoid vagueness. Related phrases like "ought to be raised" or "needs to be augmented" can provide alternative ways to express similar ideas. The phrase maintains a neutral tone, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to be raised

Replaces "should" with "ought to", maintaining the sense of obligation or advisability. "Raised" is employed as a synonym for "increased".

needs to be augmented

Substitutes "should be" with "needs to be", indicating necessity. "Augmented" is used in place of "increased", suggesting an addition or enhancement.

must be amplified

Replaces "should be" with "must be", conveying a stronger sense of obligation. "Amplified" is used instead of "increased", suggesting an increase in magnitude or effect.

has to be elevated

Substitutes "should be" with "has to be", indicating a requirement. "Elevated" is used as a synonym for "increased", implying a rise in level or status.

it is recommended to expand

Rephrases the passive construction into an active recommendation. "Expand" is used as an alternative to "increase", emphasizing growth or extent.

it is advisable to boost

Rephrases the passive construction into an active advisory. "Boost" replaces "increase", suggesting an upward push or improvement.

it would be beneficial to enlarge

Expresses the suggestion as a benefit rather than a necessity. "Enlarge" substitutes "increase", focusing on making something bigger.

action should be taken to escalate

Shifts focus to the action needed to achieve the increase. "Escalate" is used instead of "increase", implying a gradual or rapid ascent.

steps should be taken to intensify

Similar to the previous alternative, but with "intensify", indicating an increase in strength or concentration.

consideration should be given to maximizing

Suggests a careful evaluation before increasing. "Maximizing" is used as an alternative, implying reaching the highest possible level.

FAQs

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

The phrase "should be increased" is used to suggest that something needs to be made larger, greater, or more frequent. For example: "Funding for education "should be increased" to improve student outcomes."

What are some alternatives to "should be increased"?

You can use alternatives like "needs to be augmented", "ought to be raised", or "must be amplified" depending on the context and the level of emphasis you want to convey.

Is "should be increased" formal or informal?

"Should be increased" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, alternatives like "it is recommended to expand" might be preferred.

What is the difference between "should be increased" and "must be increased"?

"Should be increased" suggests a recommendation, while "must be increased" implies a stronger necessity or obligation. The choice depends on the urgency and importance of the action.