should be restrained

USAGE SUMMARY

"should be restrained" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that someone or something is in need of restraint or moderation. For example, "With the rising costs of housing, mortgage payments should be restrained to ensure affordability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Democrats should be restrained in their reaction.

The Washington Post

Love says Cameron said public expenditure should be restrained.

The Guardian

They should be restrained, make sacrifices and put others first.

The Guardian

We may all agree that the importation and sale of liquors should be restrained or prohibited.

Cornell University

The conventional view was that perpetrators should be restrained from harming victims.

The New York Times

If they make it inside, they should not be allowed to "roam freely", but should be restrained.

The Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

They create bigger problems where they should be restraining their emotions, exercising calmness and exerting self-control in order to create solutions.

Los Angeles Times

A person who is having a seizure should not be restrained, and nothing should be put in his or her mouth.

Harvard University

Young people in secure training centres should only be restrained as a last resort to prevent injury, damage or escape.

The Guardian

Congress surely intended that Qaeda operatives who are planning direct attacks against American targets should also be restrained, at least when no other legal method is available.

The New York Times

Its open design with no clasp mirrors her belief that women's freedom shouldn't be restrained by anyone or anything, even a piece of jewelry.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should be restrained", ensure the context clearly indicates what is doing the restraining and what is being restrained. For instance, specify whether it's a policy, a person, or a system that's applying the restraint.

Common error

Be specific about the method or means of restraint. Instead of simply stating something "should be restrained", clarify how it should be restrained – through legislation, self-regulation, or other means.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be restrained" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing advisability or necessity regarding the control or limitation of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and appropriate for use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

25%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "should be restrained" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that conveys the need for control, limitation, or moderation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It appears frequently in news and media, scientific, and academic contexts. To ensure clarity, specify what or who is doing the restraining and what is being restrained. When seeking alternatives, consider options like "needs to be controlled" or "ought to be limited", which offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. By following these guidelines, you can effectively and accurately employ the phrase in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to be limited

Replaces "should" with "ought to", indicating a similar sense of obligation or advisability, while "restrained" is replaced with "limited" which indicates a reduction or restriction in scope or amount.

needs to be controlled

Shifts the focus to "needs", emphasizing necessity, and replaces "restrained" with "controlled", suggesting management and regulation.

must be curbed

Uses "must" to indicate a stronger obligation, and "curbed" to suggest a forceful limitation or suppression.

has to be checked

Replaces "should" with "has to", emphasizing obligation and replaces "restrained" with "checked" which suggests monitoring to prevent excess or error.

needs to be kept in check

Emphasizes the ongoing requirement of keeping something under control.

should be kept within limits

Focuses on maintaining something within defined boundaries.

ought to be kept under control

Combines the sense of obligation with the idea of continuous management.

must be held in check

Emphasizes the necessity of preventing something from exceeding acceptable limits.

requires moderation

Highlights the need for balance and avoidance of extremes.

demands curtailment

Stresses the urgent need for reduction or limitation.

FAQs

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

Use "should be restrained" to express that something needs to be limited or controlled. For example, "Government spending "should be restrained" to avoid increasing the national debt."

What are some alternatives to saying "should be restrained"?

Alternatives include phrases like "needs to be controlled", "ought to be limited", or "must be curbed", depending on the level of emphasis you want to convey.

Is it better to use "should be restrained" or "must be restrained"?

"Should be restrained" suggests a recommendation, while "must be restrained" indicates a stronger necessity or obligation. Choose the phrase that best matches the degree of restriction you wish to express.

What's the difference between "should be restrained" and "should be limited"?

While both imply restriction, "should be restrained" often suggests controlling an action or behavior, whereas "should be limited" suggests restricting the extent or amount of something. "Emissions "should be limited"" refers to quantity, while "Aggression "should be restrained"" targets behavior.