should be supplemented by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should be supplemented by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something needs to be added to or enhanced by additional information or resources. Example: "The report should be supplemented by recent data to provide a more comprehensive analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Administration officials have disagreed over whether negotiations should be supplemented by military escalation.

The New York Times

They should be supplemented by provisions to limit the environmental damage caused by warfare.

The Guardian

And these reforms should be supplemented by other preconditions of national reconciliation, like general amnesty to all those who have not engaged in terrorism.

The New York Times

Perhaps this should be supplemented by the notion of a Deductive Slip, meaning something a politician says, however inadvertently, that can be shoehorned into a pre-existing "narrative".

The New Yorker

Third, the existing funding of the merged institutions (i.e. the Climate Change Action Bank) should be supplemented by one or more of a range of financing tools.

Independent

Such a law should be supplemented by a presidential order requiring federal and state agencies to contribute to the background check system with criminal and mental health information.

The New York Times

If anything, the results of the survey suggest that calorie postings should be supplemented by efforts to draw chain restaurants that offer healthier foods into poorer neighborhoods.

The New York Times

Robert J. Shiller's proposal for subsidizing financial advice ("How About a Stimulus for Financial Advice Economic Viewew, Jan . 18 should be supplemented by improvements in basic education for Americans.

The New York Times

Any effort to make the changes required to avert the needless deaths that now take place should be supplemented by strong programs to limit the growth in birthrates, or any benefits will be completely wasted.

The New York Times

For example, Michael Gove's GCSE reforms should be supplemented by resuscitating the successful Young Apprenticeships for 14 to 16 year olds – a vocational ladder for the children who switch off academic learning at that age and resort to truancy.

The Guardian

In opinion articles and academic commentary, lawyers and law professors across the political spectrum have been arguing in recent months about whether the criminal law should be supplemented by legislation authorizing preventive detention.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should be supplemented by", ensure that the addition genuinely enhances or completes the original element, rather than simply being an unrelated add-on.

Common error

Avoid using "should be supplemented by" when the original element is already sufficient. Adding unnecessary supplements can dilute the focus and effectiveness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be supplemented by" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a recommendation or necessity for addition or enhancement. It suggests that something is incomplete or requires further information or resources to be fully effective. According to Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "should be supplemented by" is a versatile tool for suggesting enhancements or additions to an existing element. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically sound and widely used, this phrase is particularly common in scientific and news contexts but can also be found in more formal business settings. While grammatically correct and widely applicable, it's important to ensure that the supplementation is genuinely valuable and not just redundant. As an alternative, consider phrases like ""should be enhanced by"", ""should be augmented by"", or ""should be complemented by"" to fine-tune the specific meaning you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should be enhanced by

Focuses on improving or intensifying the existing element.

should be augmented by

Emphasizes increasing the size or amount of something.

should be reinforced by

Highlights strengthening or supporting something.

should be complemented by

Stresses the idea of completing or perfecting something else.

would benefit from

Suggests that something would improve if additional things were added.

needs to be enriched with

Highlights adding valuable elements to improve quality.

requires additional

Indicates that something is incomplete and needs more to be added.

should be fortified with

Emphasizes strengthening something, especially against attack.

should incorporate

Implies integrating something new into an existing structure.

should include

Simply suggests adding something to a list or set of items.

FAQs

How can I use "should be supplemented by" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to suggest that something needs to be enhanced or completed by adding something else. For example, "The initial research "should be supplemented by" further investigation" indicates the initial research is not enough and needs more investigation.

What phrases are similar to "should be supplemented by"?

Alternatives include phrases like "should be enhanced by", "should be augmented by", or "should be complemented by". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to use "should be supplemented by"?

No, using "should be supplemented by" isn't always necessary. The phrase is useful when suggesting an addition is needed to make something more complete, effective, or accurate. However, if something is already sufficient, adding more may be redundant or unnecessary.

What's the difference between "should be supplemented by" and "should be replaced by"?

"Should be "should be supplemented by"" suggests adding something to enhance or complete the original item. "Should be replaced by" indicates that the original item is inadequate and needs to be substituted with something else. Thus, their meanings are opposite.