should have been adjusted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should have been adjusted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was expected to be modified or changed in the past but was not. Example: "The budget should have been adjusted to account for the unexpected expenses incurred last quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The policy should have been adjusted a long time ago".

The Guardian

His benefits should have been adjusted because of his part-time work, but instead nothing came.

Independent

He argued that the poll results should have been adjusted to diminish what he said was an overly Democratic skew.

The New York Times

Despite this decision, however, AMECO did not retrospectively correct the figures: Greece's government deficit remained at 3.07% of GDP in 1999 when it should have been adjusted in line with the new decision.

The Guardian

Ideally our analyses should have been adjusted for medical comorbidity, and further studies based on combined data from the SHAR and the national inpatient register would therefore be of great value.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The P-value of 0.04 should properly have been adjusted for multiplicity due to the many outcome comparisons.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

After 8 h as the xylose concentration decreased; however, to maintain the glucose:xylose ratio the feed rate should also have been adjusted, thought it would have been rather difficult as there was also xylose present in the feed.

Biotechnology for Biofuels

In particular, Sats have been adjusted repeatedly.

The Guardian

(Prices, meanwhile, have been adjusted for inflation).

The Guardian - Arts

Andersen's tale has been adjusted.

Independent

(Neither figure has been adjusted for inflation).

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overusing this phrase in close proximity; vary your language to maintain reader engagement. Consider alternatives like "needed revision" or "required modification".

Common error

Avoid using "should have been adjusted" without specifying what exactly needed adjusting. For instance, instead of saying "The process should have been adjusted", specify "The budget allocation process should have been adjusted to reflect actual expenses".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have been adjusted" functions as a modal construction expressing regret or criticism about a past action. It indicates that a change or modification was necessary but did not occur. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "should have been adjusted" expresses a past necessity for change or modification that was not fulfilled. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its usage spans various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and general writing. To enhance clarity, it's best practice to specify the element requiring adjustment. When writing, consider alternatives like "needed to be revised" or "was supposed to be changed" to add variety. The phrase typically conveys regret or criticism regarding a missed opportunity for improvement or correction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was supposed to be changed

Indicates an expectation of change that wasn't met.

ought to have been modified

Uses "ought to" for a sense of moral obligation or advisability.

needed to be corrected

Focuses on rectifying an error or inaccuracy.

should have been rectified

Implies correcting something that was wrong or deficient.

needed to be revised

Emphasizes the necessity of a past revision.

should have been amended

Focuses on a formal or legal correction.

required modification

Highlights the requirement for a change.

warranted a change

Indicates a change was justified or appropriate.

demanded alteration

Highlights the strong need or insistence for a change.

should have been recalibrated

Suggests a need for precise adjustment or realignment.

FAQs

What does "should have been adjusted" mean?

It means that something needed to be changed or modified in the past, but it wasn't. It implies a missed opportunity for improvement or correction.

When is it appropriate to use "should have been adjusted"?

Use it when discussing past situations where modifications or corrections were necessary but didn't happen, often implying a negative consequence or lost benefit.

What are some alternatives to "should have been adjusted"?

You can use alternatives like "needed to be revised", "ought to have been modified", or "was supposed to be changed" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does "should have been adjusted" differ from "should be adjusted"?

"Should have been adjusted" refers to a past action that didn't happen, while "should be adjusted" indicates a present or future action that needs to occur. The former implies regret or criticism, while the latter suggests a current need for change.