should be overlooked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should be overlooked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when suggesting that something should not be considered or should be ignored in a particular context. Example: "In the grand scheme of things, minor mistakes should be overlooked to focus on the overall progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Both behavior and outcome are important, and neither should be overlooked.

Harvard Business Review

Not all of these activities generate data, but that doesn't mean they should be overlooked.

The Guardian - Opinion

"They are ridiculously good and ridiculously successful, and it is shocking that they should be overlooked in this category".

The New York Times - Arts

None of this should be overlooked in the fight to prevent this bad piece of policy spreading its tentacles elsewhere.

The Guardian

The sponsors argued that they made a trivial mistake — a typo that lawyers refer to as a "scrivener's error" — that should be overlooked.

The New York Times

A colleague said right in front of me that my southern accent and enthusiasm should be overlooked because, actually, I was smart.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

That vulnerability should not be overlooked.

The Economist

This shouldn't be overlooked.

The Guardian - Sport

Neither should anyone be overlooked.

The New York Times - Arts

Volunteer experience should not be overlooked.

Cornell University

Progress to date shouldn't be overlooked.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should be overlooked", ensure that the context clearly indicates why something deserves to be ignored. Provide a justification to avoid ambiguity or misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "should be overlooked" as a blanket statement without explaining the rationale. Always provide context to clarify why something warrants being ignored, as neglecting this can weaken your argument and confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be overlooked" functions as a modal passive construction. The modal verb 'should' expresses a recommendation or obligation, while the passive voice indicates that the subject receives the action of being overlooked. Ludwig provides various examples of its usage in context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "should be overlooked" is a common and grammatically correct modal passive construction used to recommend that something be disregarded or given minimal attention. As evidenced by the diverse examples in Ludwig, it appears frequently in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While generally neutral in register, it's crucial to provide clear justification when employing this phrase to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "ought to be disregarded" or "must be ignored" offer varying degrees of formality and emphasis. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's usability in written English, further solidifying its place in standard communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to be disregarded

Replaces "should" with "ought to" and "overlooked" with "disregarded", suggesting a moral obligation to ignore something.

must be ignored

Emphasizes the necessity of ignoring something, using "must" instead of "should".

cannot be given attention

Uses a more descriptive phrasing, highlighting the lack of focus on something.

should be brushed aside

Employs a more casual and dismissive tone, implying a quick rejection of something.

should be discounted

Focuses on reducing the importance or value of something.

should not be focused on

Directly advises against concentrating on something, providing a clear directive.

should be taken lightly

Suggests treating something as unimportant or not serious.

should be set aside

Emphasizes the act of temporarily removing something from consideration.

should be left unexamined

Highlights the avoidance of investigation or scrutiny.

should be swept under the rug

Uses an idiom to suggest concealing or ignoring something problematic.

FAQs

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

The phrase "should be overlooked" is used to suggest that something is unimportant or irrelevant in a particular context. For example, "Minor errors "should be overlooked" in the face of significant progress."

What's a more formal alternative to "should be overlooked"?

A more formal alternative could be "ought to be disregarded". This phrasing maintains a similar meaning but carries a stronger sense of obligation or moral imperative.

When is it appropriate to say something "should be overlooked"?

It's appropriate when the item in question is of minor importance compared to the larger issue, or when focusing on it would detract from a more important goal. Context is key in determining whether something "should be overlooked".

Is there a difference between "should be ignored" and "should be overlooked"?

While similar, "should be ignored" implies a conscious decision to disregard something, whereas "should be overlooked" suggests that something is of such little consequence that it doesn't warrant attention. Both phrases suggest minimizing attention toward something.