should be shortened

USAGE SUMMARY

"should be shortened" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that something requires a reduction in length. For example, "This report should be shortened to make it more concise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The period of schooling should be shortened.

The New York Times

For a large material variation, the inspection schedule should be shortened for conservative consideration.

International Journal of Fatigue

Come November, voters will almost certainly be asked to decide if the process of mayoral succession should be shortened.

The New York Times

Already, some legal scholars have advocated that the duration of most forms of intellectual property protection should be shortened.

The New York Times

In the years since, I've never met a single Peace Corps volunteer who believes that the commitment should be shortened to one year.

The New Yorker

Either the regular season needs to be shortened — let's say to seventy games — or else the playoffs should be shortened by a round.

The New Yorker

The Law Council and civil libertarians also told the Senate inquiry into the laws that the proposed the six-month waiting period for notification should be shortened.

The Guardian

Robinson, who played for Great Britain and England before switching codes to union, says the Super League season should be shortened so that England could play more games against serious opposition, such as a Rest of the World side.

The Guardian - Sport

We also re-examined the original SPR method and found that the natural spring length proposed in T02 should be shortened to avoid instability when the global resolution is higher than grid-level 8. Finally, we examined the grids using advection/shallow water simulations.

Journal of Computational Physics

Mao Tse‐tung, the Communist party Chairman, has declared that the period of schooling in Communist China should be shortened, that priority should be given to science and engineering, and that education should be for members of the proletariat and not members of the former bourgeoisie.

The New York Times

Disney has insisted that the period between Alice in Wonderland – starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter – appearing at cinemas and its release on DVD should be shortened to three months instead of the usual 17 weeks, a move strongly opposed by Odeon.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should be shortened", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being reduced in length or duration. For example, "The meeting should be shortened to one hour" provides clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "should be shortened" without specifying what is being shortened. Saying simply "it should be shortened" leaves the reader wondering what "it" refers to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be shortened" functions as a modal verb phrase, expressing a recommendation or suggestion that something's length or duration needs to be reduced. Ludwig provides numerous examples where the phrase is used to advocate for making something shorter.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should be shortened" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that serves to suggest or recommend a reduction in length or duration. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in diverse writing contexts. It is most commonly found in News & Media and Scientific publications. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying exactly what needs to be shortened. Consider using alternatives like "ought to be reduced" or "needs to be curtailed" for stylistic variation. By following these guidelines, you can effectively use the phrase "should be shortened" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to be reduced

Substitutes "should" with "ought to", maintaining the sense of obligation but alters the verb from passive to infinitive.

should be made briefer

Uses "briefer" instead of "shortened", offering a more direct adjective.

needs to be curtailed

Replaces "shortened" with "curtailed", suggesting a more abrupt or forceful reduction.

should be trimmed down

Uses the phrasal verb "trimmed down" to imply a more refined or careful reduction.

must be decreased in length

Expands "shortened" to "decreased in length" for added emphasis and specificity.

needs to be abridged

Replaces "shortened" with "abridged", suggesting a formal reduction, like in a text.

should be made more concise

Shifts the focus to conciseness rather than length, implying a reduction in unnecessary words.

should be condensed

Similar to compressed, but implies concentrating the essential parts.

has to be compressed

Emphasizes compactness using "compressed", suggesting a squeezing or tight reduction.

would benefit from brevity

Indirectly suggests shortening by stating that brevity would be advantageous.

FAQs

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

Use "should be shortened" to suggest that something needs to be reduced in length or duration. For example, "The presentation "should be shortened" to fit the allocated time" or "The waiting list "should be shortened" by prioritizing urgent cases".

What are some alternatives to "should be shortened"?

You can use alternatives such as "ought to be reduced", "needs to be curtailed", or "should be made briefer" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "should be shorten" instead of "should be shortened"?

No, "should be shorten" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""should be shortened"", where "shortened" is the past participle of the verb "shorten". The modal verb "should" requires the base form of the verb followed by "be" and the past participle.

What is the difference between "should be shortened" and "should be reduced"?

While both phrases suggest a decrease, ""should be shortened"" specifically implies a reduction in length or duration. "should be reduced" is more general and can refer to a decrease in quantity, size, or intensity. The best option depends on the intended meaning.