should have arrived

USAGE SUMMARY

'should have arrived' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express that something did not arrive, but was expected to. For example: The package should have arrived yesterday, but I still haven't received it.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Given the height reached over the dip equator, the upwelling should have arrived over KTB, and its arrival might be expected to produce ionogram signatures, not unlike those found in equatorial ionograms (Abdu et al. 1981; Tsunoda, 2008, 2009).

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

Some items should have arrived warmer.

The New York Times

Sent overnight so should have arrived by now.

The Guardian

The equaliser should have arrived four minutes after the-start.

The Guardian - Sport

I feel the ambulance should have arrived quicker than it did".

The Guardian

Most, if not all, of these should have arrived by now.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Maybe, in the sense that he, like White, should probably never have arrived at a level in the Presidential race that required this much scrutiny.

The New Yorker

An embryo develops gradually from single-celled zygote to newborn baby, and there's no one instant when "personhood" should be deemed to have arrived.

The Guardian

At five years' service you should feel that you have arrived, that you are ideally situated to hold forth on your subject forever, or at least until a reasonably early retirement twenty-five years in.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

However, we should note that although we have arrived at the same destination the journey has been by a different, and indeed unprecedented, route.

BBC

Israel says they have arrived illegally and should return home.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "should have arrived" to express a past expectation that something or someone was expected to be at a certain place or time, but was not. It often implies disappointment or a problem.

Common error

Avoid using "should have arrived" when referring to a future event. "Should be arriving" or "is expected to arrive" are more appropriate for future expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have arrived" functions as a modal construction expressing an expectation or obligation in the past that was not fulfilled. Ludwig AI shows that the phrase is commonly used to indicate that something was expected to be at a certain location or time, but it wasn't.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

16%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "should have arrived" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a past expectation that was not met. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, especially in news and media. While it’s generally safe to use, be mindful of the implied disappointment or concern it conveys. Alternatives like "was due to arrive" or "was expected to be here" may be more suitable depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Avoid using it when referring to a future event, as that would be a misuse of tense.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was supposed to be here

Focuses on the expectation of arrival at a specific location.

was scheduled to arrive

Emphasizes the pre-arranged timing of the expected arrival.

was due to arrive

Highlights the obligation or requirement of the arrival at a certain time.

ought to have reached

Uses 'ought' to express a moral or logical expectation of arrival.

was expected to be present

Shifts the focus to being present at a location, rather than just arriving.

should have reached its destination

Highlights that the arrival hasn't reached the final location.

was anticipated to be here by now

Emphasizes the expectation and the current state of not being present.

was projected to land

Specifically suggests an arrival in the context of flight or shipping.

was estimated to get here

Focuses on the estimation of the arrival, with an implication of inaccuracy.

was foreseen to turn up

More colloquial and informal way of saying that somebody was expected to arrive.

FAQs

How can I use "should have arrived" in a sentence?

Use "should have arrived" to indicate that something was expected to be at a certain location or time in the past, but it wasn't. For example, "The package "should have arrived" yesterday."

What does "should have arrived" imply?

"Should have arrived" implies that there was an expectation or plan for something to arrive at a specific time, and its absence is either surprising or problematic.

What's the difference between "should have arrived" and "was supposed to arrive"?

While both express an expectation of arrival, "should have arrived" implies a stronger sense of obligation or correctness. "Was supposed to arrive" is a more general expression of expectation.

What are some alternatives to "should have arrived"?

Alternatives include "was due to arrive", "was expected to be here", or "was scheduled to arrive", depending on the context.