should have been completed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'should have been completed' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a task or project that was not completed on time or did not reach the desired result. For example: "The report should have been completed by now but there are still some sections that need to be written."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

The case should have been completed in one year.

The New York Times

Ms. Snipes said the investigation should have been completed much sooner.

The New York Times

Work should have been completed to enable King's Cross and Paddington to open on Saturday 27 December.

The Guardian

We think that the work for which the shed was erected should have been completed a long time ago.

The New York Times

By the end of the year, four or five trials, involving up to a dozen defendants, should have been completed.

The Economist

Some of them should have been completed during the Bush years; all are essential to protect the environment.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Previous adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy should had been completed at least 4 months before enrollment and prior major surgery or radiotherapy 4 weeks before enrollment.

BMC Cancer

In experiments, birds caged in totally artificial environments grew excessively restless at migration time and returned to calm again at the time their normal migration should have been complete.

The New York Times - Science

Statistics published by the Manchester Guardian in July 1913 suggest, however, that it would not have been a successful initiative - several suffragettes had absconded, and others would take up to five more years to serve sentences that should already have been completed.

The Guardian

In addition, the SCOPE questionnaire should not have been completed in the past two years.

BMC Family Practice

"All the cases, which are being investigated and those cases that have been completed, should be reviewed by the delegation and the outcome of its assessment should be reported to Karzai's office," the statement said.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should have been completed", ensure the context clearly indicates what the expected timeline was and why it wasn't met. For example, specify the date or event that served as the deadline.

Common error

Avoid using "should have been completed" without specifying a clear deadline or reason for the delay. This can leave the statement ambiguous and less impactful. Always provide context to enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have been completed" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing regret, expectation, or obligation regarding a past action that was not fulfilled. It indicates that something was expected to be finished but it wasn't.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Academia

12%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "should have been completed" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something was expected to be finished by a particular time, but wasn't. As Ludwig AI explains, it conveys regret, expectation, or obligation regarding a past action that wasn't fulfilled. It is suitable for neutral contexts like news articles or professional reports, but clarity is key: always provide context about the expected timeline and reasons for delay. While there are many alternative phrasings, such as "ought to have been finished" or "was supposed to be done", the core meaning remains consistent. Remember to avoid the common error of using "should of" instead of "should have".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to have been finished

Replaces "should" with "ought to", a synonym expressing obligation.

was supposed to be done

Uses a more informal phrasing indicating an expectation of completion.

needed to be completed earlier

Emphasizes the necessity and the timing of the completion.

had to be finalized previously

Highlights the requirement of prior finalization.

was due to be concluded

Indicates a scheduled completion that did not occur.

should have been finalized by now

Adds a sense of urgency and immediacy to the missed deadline.

was expected to be ready

Focuses on the expectation of readiness that was not met.

completion was overdue

Directly states that the completion was past its deadline.

the deadline has passed

Simply states that deadline is over.

it is behind schedule

Indicates progress is not on track.

FAQs

How can I use "should have been completed" in a sentence?

You can use "should have been completed" to express that something was expected to be finished by a certain time but wasn't. For example, "The project "should have been completed" last week, but we faced some unexpected delays."

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

Some alternatives include "ought to have been finished", "was supposed to be done", or "needed to be completed earlier", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "should have been completed" and "was completed"?

"Should have been completed" indicates an expectation or obligation that something was not finished on time. "Was completed" simply states that something is finished, without any implication about timelines.

Is it correct to say "should of been completed"?

No, "should of been completed" is incorrect. The correct form is ""should have been completed"". The contraction "should've" sounds similar to "should of", but it represents "should have."