should be quickly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should be quickly" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when discussing the need for something to be done in a fast manner, but it requires a different structure to be grammatically correct. Example: "The report should be completed quickly to meet the deadline."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But he said it should be quickly repaired.

The New York Times

"This direction should be quickly and firmly rejected.

The New York Times

By historical standards, he should be quickly and unanimously confirmed.

The New Yorker

Regulations are long overdue; the draft guidelines should be quickly released for public comment.

The New York Times

At least three songs should be quickly promoted into the Dylan pantheon.

The New Yorker

Those nights occasionally happen, Smart said, but the games should be quickly forgotten.

The New York Times - Sports

New members should be quickly and formally introduced to the party.

The Guardian - Opinion

Meager as they are, the proposed toll increases are necessary and should be quickly instituted.

The New York Times

Even her book, she says, should be quickly discarded when it's no longer needed.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But they should be quickly discharged to the care of the doctors and nurses who know them best.

The New York Times

Some overreached, arguing that coal power could and should be quickly left behind in favor of renewables.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, prioritize placing adverbs of manner (like 'quickly') directly after the auxiliary verb ('should') or at the end of the clause for improved readability and flow. Consider using alternatives such as "should quickly be" or "should be done quickly."

Common error

Avoid placing adverbs of manner between the auxiliary verb 'be' and the past participle, as this can disrupt the sentence's rhythm and clarity. Instead of saying "should be quickly", opt for "should quickly be" or rephrase to place the adverb at the end: "should be done quickly."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be quickly" functions as a modal verb phrase, expressing a recommendation or expectation for an action to occur rapidly. While Ludwig shows numerous examples of its use, its grammatical correctness is often questioned, suggesting that while common, it's not always the most appropriate choice.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "should be quickly" is frequently used to express the need for prompt action. However, Ludwig AI indicates it's not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The preferred word order is "should quickly be", or rephrasing the sentence is recommended for improved clarity. While common across news, science, and general media, prioritizing alternatives like "should be promptly" or restructuring sentences ensures grammatical accuracy and clarity. Therefore, while you might encounter "should be quickly" often, especially in the news and media contexts, it is better to choose a more grammatically sound alternative to meet standards of writing quality and avoid issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should quickly be

Changes the position of 'quickly' from after 'be' to between 'should' and 'be', altering the emphasis and rhythm of the phrase. This is the grammatically preferred order.

ought to be quickly

Replaces "should" with "ought to", maintaining a similar level of obligation or expectation. It does not fix the word order.

needs to be quickly

Shifts from suggestion to necessity, emphasizing the urgency of the action. It does not fix the word order.

must be quickly

Emphasizes a strong obligation or requirement for something to happen swiftly. It does not fix the word order.

should be promptly

Replaces "quickly" with "promptly", offering a more formal and precise synonym. This does fix the word order issue, as "promptly" tends to be placed after the verb.

should be swiftly

Substitutes "quickly" with "swiftly", providing a more elegant and slightly less common alternative. This does fix the word order issue, as "swiftly" tends to be placed after the verb.

should be expeditiously

Replaces "quickly" with "expeditiously", offering a more formal and less common synonym. This does fix the word order issue, as "expeditiously" tends to be placed after the verb.

should be immediately

Replaces "quickly" with "immediately", emphasizing the urgency and lack of delay. This does fix the word order issue, as "immediately" tends to be placed after the verb.

should be rapidly

Substitutes "quickly" with "rapidly", focusing on the speed of the action. This does fix the word order issue, as "rapidly" tends to be placed after the verb.

should be without delay

Replaces "quickly" with a phrase that explicitly states the absence of delay, adding emphasis. This does fix the word order issue.

FAQs

Is "should be quickly" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, the phrase "should be quickly" isn't considered grammatically correct in formal English. The preferred phrasing is "should quickly be" or to rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

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

More formal alternatives include phrases like "should be promptly", "should be expeditiously", or "needs to be done swiftly", which convey a sense of urgency with greater precision.

How can I rephrase a sentence using "should be quickly" to improve clarity?

You can often improve clarity by rephrasing the sentence to place the adverb at the end or before the main verb. For example, instead of "the issue should be quickly resolved", try "the issue "should be resolved quickly"" or "the issue "should quickly resolve" itself".

What are some common synonyms for "quickly" that I can use in place of "should be quickly"?

Common synonyms for "quickly" include "promptly", "swiftly", "immediately", and "rapidly". Consider using these alternatives to avoid the awkwardness of "should be quickly".