should have been expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should have been expected" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was anticipated or predictable based on prior knowledge or circumstances. Example: "Given the recent events, the outcome of the meeting should have been expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Better should have been expected.

The Economist

"They should have been expected.

The Guardian

(But maybe Engler's reaction should have been expected.

The New Yorker

Spread proponents, meanwhile, responded as should have been expected.

The New York Times - Sports

"They would just start shooting". Israeli military officials said the fierce battles should have been expected.

The Guardian

This pressure should have been expected, however, and factored into pandemic planning.

The Guardian - Opinion

Perhaps that should have been expected, given the restaurant's impressive global pedigree.

The New York Times - Travel

So it probably should have been expected that the school's decision would become ensnared in that discussion.

The Washington Post

Kenneth H. Bacon, president of Refugees International and a former Pentagon spokesman, said, "It should have been expected".

The New York Times

Thus, a portfolio that was divided equally among those three markets should have been expected to rise 14.9percentt.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Hence, the adverse effects--heart disease and breast cancer, to name a couple--should have been expected.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "should have been expected" when you want to convey that an event or outcome was predictable based on the circumstances. It suggests a degree of inevitability or logical consequence.

Common error

Avoid using "should have been expected" excessively when discussing past events, especially if the predictability was not clear at the time. Overuse can sound judgmental or create a sense of blame.

Linguistic Context

"Should have been expected" functions as a modal perfect construction. It expresses a past expectation or anticipation that something was predictable or inevitable. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct and usable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "should have been expected" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to express that an event or outcome was predictable based on available information. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable phrase in English. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, as well as in scientific and formal business settings. While many alternatives exist, such as ""was to be anticipated"" or "came as no surprise", the phrase's core meaning revolves around the idea of foreseeability. Writers should use it carefully, avoiding overuse in hindsight scenarios to prevent sounding overly critical or judgmental.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

came as no surprise

Highlights the lack of surprise at the event's occurrence.

was predictable

Highlights the regularity or pattern that allowed the event to be known in advance.

was to be anticipated

Uses a more formal tone and emphasizes the act of anticipating something.

was foreseeable

Focuses on the ability to see an event beforehand.

could have been foreseen

Emphasizes the possibility of foreseeing the event with some effort.

was a foregone conclusion

Suggests the outcome was decided or known well in advance.

was almost certain

Indicates a high degree of confidence that the event would occur.

was bound to happen

Suggests an inevitability about the event occurring.

was just a matter of time

Implies the event's occurrence was delayed but inevitable.

was in the cards

An idiomatic expression suggesting the event was predetermined or destined.

FAQs

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

You can use "should have been expected" to express that something was predictable or anticipated. For example, "Given the warnings, the power outage "should have been expected"."

What is a more formal alternative to "should have been expected"?

A more formal alternative is "was to be anticipated". For example, "The decline in sales "was to be anticipated", considering the market trends."

Is "should have been expected" different from "could have been expected"?

"Should have been expected" implies a higher degree of certainty or predictability based on available information. "Could have been expected" suggests a possibility, but not necessarily a strong likelihood.

What does it mean when someone says something "should have been expected"?

It means that the person believes the event or outcome was predictable or logical given the circumstances, and perhaps someone was negligent in not anticipating it.