should have been done

USAGE SUMMARY

'should have been done' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this expression when referring to something that was not done, but should have been. For example: "The dishes should have been done by now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Everything should have been done openly".

The New York Times

This should have been done sooner.

The New York Times

But what should have been done?

The New Yorker

This should have been done last year.

The Washington Post

This should have been done straight away.

The Guardian

So what should have been done differently?

The New York Times

"It should have been done before".

The New York Times

That should have been done long ago.

The New York Times

I asked him what should have been done.

The New York Times - Magazine

Kempe says only by implication what should have been done.

The New York Times - Books

He added that an inspection should have been done.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "should have been done" to express regret or criticism about a missed opportunity or unfulfilled obligation. For example, "The report should have been done last week."

Common error

Avoid using "should of been done", as "should of" is a misspelling of "should have". Always use the correct auxiliary verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have been done" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase expressing regret, criticism, or a missed opportunity. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, as seen in numerous examples indicating actions that were expected but not completed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "should have been done" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to convey that a past action was necessary or expected but not completed. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage across various contexts, primarily in news and media, but also in science and formal communication. To avoid errors, remember to use "should have" rather than "should of". Consider alternatives like "ought to have been done" or "needed to have been done" to adjust the emphasis. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use the phrase in your writing to express regret, criticism, or missed opportunities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to have been done

This alternative uses "ought to" instead of "should have", indicating a moral obligation or duty.

needed to have been done

This alternative emphasizes the necessity of the action.

required to have been done

This alternative focuses on the requirement or obligation for the action to be completed.

had to have been done

This alternative suggests a strong obligation or necessity in the past.

was supposed to have been done

This alternative indicates an expectation that the action would be completed.

was meant to have been done

This alternative conveys an intention or plan for the action to be completed.

should have already been done

This alternative emphasizes that the action should have been completed by now.

was due to have been done

This alternative indicates a scheduled or expected completion time.

it would have been better if it was done

This alternative expresses regret that the action was not completed.

action that was not done, but it was a good idea to do it

This alternative is more descriptive and less concise than the original phrase.

FAQs

How to use "should have been done" in a sentence?

Use "should have been done" to indicate that something was not completed but would have been beneficial or necessary. For example, "The research "should have been done" before launching the product".

What can I say instead of "should have been done"?

You can use alternatives like "ought to have been done", "needed to have been done", or "was supposed to have been done" depending on the context.

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

"Should have been done" is the correct form. "Should of been done" is a common misspelling based on the pronunciation of "should've", which is a contraction of "should have".

What's the nuance of using "could have been done" instead of "should have been done"?

"Should have been done" implies an obligation or expectation that was not met. "Could have been done" suggests a possibility that was not realized, but not necessarily an obligation.