should be merited

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should be merited" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing whether something deserves recognition, reward, or acknowledgment based on its qualities or actions. Example: "The effort put into the project should be merited with a formal acknowledgment from the management."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In a televised debate, McCormack said "The office of United States senator should be merited, and not inherited," and said that if his opponent's name was Edward Moore, not Edward Moore Kennedy, his candidacy "would be a joke".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The only basis for entry should be merit.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Levy's action came after several years of debate over whether there should be merit pay for administrators and teachers in city schools.

The New York Times

But it should be merit-based.

Forbes

People start kicking up a fuss, like, "Oh, it should be merit-based".

Vice

Moreover, he instructed that the primary criterion for promotion should be merit and not personal loyalties.

Wikipedia

Data derived with this questionnaire will be used to calculate costs of productivity losses, should incremental cost-effectiveness be merited at closure of the trial (see economic evaluation).

BMC Family Practice

Some discussion of these issues is merited and should be included in a revised manuscript.

eLife

Clearly basic supply and demand are in effect here, and these women are earning exactly what they should be, with merit and qualifications taken into account.

The New York Times - Magazine

Steve McDowall, a prop in the 1987 team, disagreed with the rotation by coach Graham Henry, arguing any changes should be on merit alone.

Independent

Indian officials expressed the "unanimous view" on Tuesday that "nationality is not the criteria — the criteria should be the merit of the candidate on its own rights," she said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should be merited", ensure that the context clearly establishes the criteria upon which something deserves recognition or reward. For instance, specify the actions or qualities that warrant the merit.

Common error

Avoid using "should be merited" in overly formal or stilted language, as simpler alternatives like "deserves" or "warrants" might sound more natural and direct in contemporary writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be merited" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing an opinion or recommendation that something deserves recognition or reward. This aligns with Ludwig AI's indication of grammatical correctness and the examples found.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should be merited" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express that something deserves recognition or reward, as also confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not very common, it appears in news, scientific, and wiki sources. Simpler alternatives like "deserves" or "warrants" might be preferred in some contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the criteria for deserving the merit. Be mindful of the register, as it may sound overly formal in casual settings. Overall, the phrase is valid but should be used judiciously for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should be deserved

Replaces "merited" with "deserved", indicating a rightful earning of something.

should be warranted

Substitutes "merited" with "warranted", implying justification for something.

should be justified

Replaces "merited" with "justified", focusing on the legitimacy of something.

should be recognized

Uses "recognized" instead of "merited", emphasizing acknowledgment of something's value.

ought to be merited

Replaces "should" with "ought to", suggesting a moral obligation.

deserves to be merited

Changes the structure to emphasize that something "deserves" the merit.

should be credited

Uses "credited" instead of "merited", highlighting acknowledgment of contribution.

should be rewarded

Replaces "merited" with "rewarded", focusing on the act of giving a prize or recognition.

should be valued

Substitutes "merited" with "valued", highlighting the importance or worth of something.

should be acknowledged

Replaces "merited" with "acknowledged", focusing on recognition of existence or truth of something.

FAQs

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

You can use "should be merited" when discussing whether something deserves recognition, reward, or acknowledgment based on its qualities or actions. For example: "The effort put into the project /s/should+be+merited with a formal acknowledgment from the management".

What phrases are similar to "should be merited"?

Alternatives to "should be merited" include "should be deserved", "should be warranted", or "should be recognized" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "should be merited" and "should be rewarded"?

"Should be merited" emphasizes the inherent deservingness based on qualities or actions, while "should be rewarded" focuses on the act of bestowing a prize or recognition.

Is "should be merited" formal or informal?

"Should be merited" tends to be somewhat formal. In many contexts, simpler phrases like "deserves" or "warrants" might be more appropriate.