should have believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should have believed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express regret or a missed opportunity regarding a belief or trust in something that was expected to be true. Example: "I should have believed in her abilities; she proved me wrong by succeeding against all odds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

"I don't think anybody believed or should have believed that somehow the early numbers were reasonable," Mr. Engler said.

The New York Times

He had worked in insurance, so I should have believed him – but at the time I thought, surely not?

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. Miller said his critics should have believed him when he pledged during the Senate race to maintain his independence.

The New York Times

(2) Intended to incur, or believed or reasonably should have believed that the debtor would incur, debts beyond the debtor's ability to pay as they become due.

Harvard University

Much of this rhetoric was inflated, and even silly: no serious person should have believed the EU's claim that it could cut emissions 15% by 2010 without economic cost.

The Economist

No one should have believed it, but 18,000 did; and the British government, whose supervision had indeed been lax, paid them £150m in "ex gratia" compensation.* "The Secret History of the South Sea Bubble", by Malcolm Balen.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"I think even with the video, it's going to be tough to prove that this was more than just an accident and that it was even culpable negligence, which he should've known or should've believed that by getting close to this guy, that it was going to cause the accident," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

Whatever we don't like about the world we live in, whatever doesn't work the way we think it should, has, believe it or not, been designed to work pretty much exactly that way.

Huffington Post

And to be honest, why should anyone have believed it?

The New York Times

Hamlet: You should not have believed me…I loved you not.

The New Yorker

HAMLET: You should not have believed me; for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it: I loved you not.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the implications of not believing someone or something. The phrase often carries a sense of missed opportunity or negative consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "should have believed" when referring to current beliefs or future actions. This phrase specifically addresses past actions and missed opportunities for trust. Use "should believe" when refering to current or future trust.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have believed" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing regret, criticism, or a sense of missed opportunity regarding a past belief or trust. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

23%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "should have believed" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey regret or a missed opportunity regarding past beliefs. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's commonly found in news and media, academic settings, and informal conversations. When using this phrase, ensure you are referring to a past event where believing something differently could have altered the outcome. Remember that alternative phrases, such as "ought to have trusted" or "should have taken seriously", can add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to have trusted

Suggests a moral obligation to have trusted someone or something.

needed to have accepted

Emphasizes the necessity of accepting something as true.

should have taken seriously

Highlights the failure to treat something with the appropriate level of importance.

should have given credence to

Indicates a failure to attribute credibility to something.

should have heeded

Implies a failure to pay attention to and follow advice or warnings.

should have listened to

Focuses on the act of not listening and believing information.

should have had faith in

Highlights a lack of trust or confidence in someone or something.

should have recognized the truth of

Emphasizes a failure to acknowledge or understand the veracity of something.

should have been convinced by

Focuses on not being persuaded or won over by something.

should have acknowledged

Highlights the lack of acceptance of some facts or evidences.

FAQs

How can I use "should have believed" in a sentence?

Use "should have believed" to express regret that you did not trust someone or something in the past. For example, "I should have believed him when he warned me about the risks involved."

What are some alternatives to "should have believed"?

You can use alternatives like "ought to have trusted", "needed to have accepted", or "should have taken seriously" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "should have believed" and "should believe"?

"Should have believed" refers to a past action that you now regret not having done, while "should believe" expresses a current or future recommendation or expectation. For example, "I should have believed her yesterday," versus "You should believe her now".

Is it correct to say "should of believed" instead of "should have believed"?

No, "should of believed" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "should have believed", where "have" is an auxiliary verb forming the perfect infinitive.