should be not

USAGE SUMMARY

"should be not" is not correct in written English.
To make it correct, use either "should not be" or "shouldn't be." For example: "This document should not be shared outside of the organization." OR "This document shouldn't be shared outside of the organization."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(7) after first, the denominator should be, not.

Princeton University

A photographer's philosophy should be not to have one".

The New York Times - Arts

"Given the situation in Syria that should be not surprise".

Independent

To this end, directors should be not only independent of management but also dependent on shareholders.

Harvard University

p. 82 In the first line the denominator should be, not.

Princeton University

At the beginning of adolescence, it should be not so bad.

Cornell University

It will declare what outstanding should be, not what it could be.

The Washington Post

The issue should be not the application of the rule but the rule itself.

The Guardian - Sport

The primary goal should be not to sell content, but to extract information and build loyalty.

Harvard Business Review

Our guide should be not blind obedience, in other words, but reasoned deliberation.

The New York Times

Our ambition should be not only to realize their potential, but to do so safely.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "should not be" or "shouldn't be" in formal writing to ensure grammatical correctness. While "should be not" appears, it's best to avoid this construction.

Common error

Avoid placing 'not' between 'should' and 'be'. The correct placement is before 'be' ("should not be") to follow standard English grammar rules.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be not" functions as an attempt to express negation with a modal verb. However, it deviates from standard English grammar. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect and recommends using "should not be" or "shouldn't be" instead.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Academia

20%

Wiki

18.33%

Less common in

Science

18.33%

Formal & Business

13.33%

Reference

6.67%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "should be not" appears in various sources, it is grammatically incorrect in modern English. Ludwig AI suggests that the correct forms are "should not be" or "shouldn't be". Although it is a common phrase, its usage should be avoided in formal writing in favor of its grammatically sound alternatives. The phrase aims to express that something is not recommended or permitted, but its non-standard structure detracts from its clarity and professionalism. Therefore, always opt for "should not be" or "shouldn't be" to ensure correct and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should not be

Reverses the word order to adhere to standard English grammar, placing the 'not' before the 'be'.

shouldn't be

Uses the contracted form of 'should not be', maintaining correct grammar and a more casual tone.

ought not to be

Replaces 'should' with 'ought to', providing a more formal alternative with correct negative placement.

must not be

Substitutes 'should' with 'must', indicating a stronger sense of prohibition or necessity.

is not supposed to be

Replaces 'should' with 'is supposed to', indicating expectation or plan with correct negative placement.

is not to be

Uses a more formal and emphatic way to express that something is not allowed or expected.

it is not advisable to be

Rephrases to explicitly state that something is not recommended.

it would be better not to be

Suggests that avoiding a certain state or action is preferable.

it is preferable that it is not

Rephrases to emphasize the preference for something not occurring.

is better if not

Conveys a preference for the absence of something, using a conditional structure.

FAQs

What's the correct way to negate "should be"?

The grammatically correct ways to negate "should be" are "should not be" or the contraction "shouldn't be". The phrase "should be not" is generally considered incorrect.

Is "should be not" ever acceptable?

While you might encounter "should be not" in some contexts, particularly in informal speech or older texts, it's best to stick to "should not be" or "shouldn't be" in modern English writing.

What does "should not be" mean?

"Should not be" indicates that something is not advisable, recommended, or permitted. It expresses a sense of obligation or expectation that something is avoided.

What are some alternatives to "should not be"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "must not be" (stronger prohibition), "is not supposed to be" (expectation), or "ought not to be" (formal).