should be upheld

USAGE SUMMARY

"should be upheld" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to refer to something that should be maintained or supported, typically in a legal or ethical context. Example: "It is our responsibility as citizens to ensure that justice and fairness should be upheld in our society."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Under Supreme Court precedents, this California law should be upheld.

University of California, Berkeley

"Obviously, intellectual property should be upheld globally," Mr. Dyson said.

The New York Times

"The independence of the police is what should be upheld.

The Guardian

The law should be upheld because its overall burden is minimal and justified.

Cornell University

For all the foregoing reasons, the decision of the district court should be upheld.

Stanford University

Petitioner's conviction, therefore, should be upheld, and I dissent from the Court's upsetting that conviction.

Cornell University

Firstly, there's the basic principle that honesty in advertising should be upheld.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

These fundamental rights are indisputably universal, and should be upheld at any cost.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The regulation and the laws that we have should be upheld".

The Guardian - Money

The Bush administration says it plans to appeal, but the ruling should be upheld.

The New York Times

There are multiple reasons why the Goldwater rule should be upheld.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "should be upheld" when you want to express that a principle, law, or decision is valid and deserves to be maintained or supported. It is particularly effective in formal writing and legal contexts.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "should be upheld" can sound overly formal in casual conversation or informal writing. Consider using simpler alternatives like "needs to be supported" or "should be kept" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be upheld" functions as a modal passive construction, expressing an opinion or recommendation that something deserves to be supported or maintained. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should be upheld" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase expressing that something deserves to be supported or maintained. Ludwig AI validates this. Predominantly found in news and academic sources, it leans towards a neutral to professional register. While versatile, consider the formality of your context to avoid overuse in casual settings. Its purpose is to advocate for the validation or preservation of principles, rules, or decisions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to be maintained

Replaces "should" with "ought to", emphasizing a moral obligation, and substitutes "upheld" with "maintained", focusing on preservation.

must be sustained

Replaces "should be" with "must be", indicating a stronger necessity, and substitutes "upheld" with "sustained", focusing on continuation.

needs to be defended

Replaces "should" with "needs to", emphasizing requirement, and substitutes "upheld" with "defended", focusing on protection from attack.

has to be preserved

Replaces "should" with "has to", indicating obligation, and substitutes "upheld" with "preserved", focusing on keeping something intact.

is to be supported

Rephrases the sentence in the passive voice, emphasizing the act of support rather than the obligation.

deserves to be protected

Adds a sense of deserving or merit, shifting the focus to the value of what is being upheld.

warrants being maintained

Uses "warrants" to imply justification for maintaining something, adding a layer of reasoning.

merits being defended

Highlights the worthiness of defending something, changing the focus to the object's value.

demands to be preserved

Emphasizes the urgency and necessity of preserving something, intensifying the obligation.

requires to be sustained

Similar to 'must be sustained', this highlights the requirement of sustaining something, but can sound less natural.

FAQs

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

The phrase "should be upheld" is typically used to express that a rule, principle, or decision is valid and deserves to be supported or maintained. For example, "The court ruled that the original contract "should be upheld"."

What are some alternatives to "should be upheld"?

Alternatives include "ought to be maintained", "must be sustained", or "needs to be defended", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "must be upheld" instead of "should be upheld"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "must be upheld" conveys a stronger sense of necessity or obligation than "should be upheld". Use "must" when emphasizing a non-negotiable requirement.

What's the difference between "should be upheld" and "should be enforced"?

"Should be upheld" implies maintaining the validity or support for something, while "should be enforced" focuses on ensuring compliance with a rule or law. For example, a principle "should be upheld", and a law "should be enforced".