should have been doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"should have been doing" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to describe an action that was expected or planned to happen in the past, but did not occur. Example: I should have been studying for my exam, but I got distracted by my phone.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I should have been doing dexterity exercises.

The New York Times - Magazine

We should have been doing that.

The Washington Post

"They should have been doing more to fix the company".

The New York Times

"He should have been doing his homework," Pearlman said.

The New York Times - Sports

We should have been doing that all season.

The New York Times - Sports

"But it's what you should have been doing all along".

The New York Times

"They should have been doing that all along.

The New York Times

Maxine Waters should have been doing the same thing.

The New York Times

I'll let you off, I know you should have been doing my homework.

Yale University

It's not just that Griffin should have been doing this show years ago – she should have been doing it when she was less successful and less loved.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I think you can make the case that Japan should have been doing better in 2007.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "should have been doing" to express regret or criticism about a past action that was not taken, emphasizing the missed opportunity or the expected behavior.

Common error

Avoid using "should have been doing" to describe current or future actions. It's specifically for past actions that didn't occur.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have been doing" is a modal verb construction expressing regret, obligation, or expectation regarding a past action that was ongoing but did not occur. Ludwig provides many examples of this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should have been doing" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express regret or expectation about a past action that didn't happen. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media, and also academia. It's essential to use the phrase correctly, understanding that it refers specifically to past actions. Alternative phrases, like "ought to have been doing" or "was supposed to be doing", can provide similar meanings with slight variations in tone and emphasis. Avoiding tense errors and understanding the implied regret or expectation are crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should've been doing

A contraction of "should have been doing", carrying the same meaning in a more informal tone.

ought to have been doing

Similar in meaning, but "ought to" carries a slightly stronger sense of moral obligation.

was supposed to be doing

Indicates an expectation or plan that wasn't fulfilled.

was meant to be doing

Suggests an intention or purpose that wasn't realized.

had to be doing

Implies a necessity or requirement that existed in the past.

needed to be doing

Highlights the need or desirability of a past action.

it would have been better to be doing

Expresses regret by stating that an alternative action would have yielded a more desirable result.

I wish I had been doing

Directly expresses regret that an action was not carried out in the past.

it would have been advisable to be doing

Suggests that the action was the recommended course of action in the past.

it was imperative to be doing

Emphasizes the critical importance of doing an action in the past.

FAQs

How do I use "should have been doing" in a sentence?

"Should have been doing" expresses regret or indicates something that was expected but didn't happen. For example, "I "should have been doing" my homework instead of watching TV."

What's a more formal way to say "should have been doing"?

A more formal alternative to "should have been doing" is "ought to have been doing", which carries a slightly stronger sense of moral obligation.

Which is correct, "should have done" or "should have been doing"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they have different meanings. "Should have done" implies the action is completed (or not). "Should have been doing" implies the action was ongoing or habitual but didn't occur. For example, "I should have done the dishes" versus "I "should have been doing" the dishes all evening instead of procrastinating."

What can I say instead of "should have been doing" to indicate a missed opportunity?

You can use phrases like "was supposed to be doing" or "was meant to be doing" to indicate a plan or intention that was not fulfilled.