should have collected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should have collected" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a past obligation or expectation that was not fulfilled, often reflecting regret or hindsight. Example: "We should have collected all the necessary documents before the deadline to avoid any issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Before long, this should have collected hairs from the back of a small mammal.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"People always say to me, 'I should have collected when,' " Mr. Levy said.

The New York Times - Arts

Debate will rage as to whether Gordon should have collected an Ilicic free-kick, looped deep to his back post, or one of the Scottish defenders should have hammered the ball clear.

The Guardian - Sport

The Everton manager admitted Barkley could have seen red for his foul on Henderson but claimed Dejan Lovren should have collected a second yellow card for his part in the mêlée that followed.

The Guardian - Sport

It's not a trivial issue: Comptroller Susan Combs, a Republican, is suing Amazon for $269 million, saying the company should have collected — but didn't — sales taxes from Texas customers from 2005 to 2009.

The New York Times

At the heart of the tax battle is whether NetJets and a sister division should have collected a special transportation tax - often called a "ticket tax" - from the fractional owners of its fleet.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Mick Creedon, the Derbyshire chief constable who is running the internal investigation into the undercover unit that operated between 1968 and 2008, will criticise Scotland Yard for disregarding "rules and legislation that clearly set out what they should, and should not have, collected and retained".

The Guardian

The bill would require companies to refund surcharges they shouldn't have collected.

The New York Times

You should already have collected contact info for the family.

WikiHow

"It assumes that we did something wrong and that we should give back what we have collected.

The New York Times - Arts

You should address the complaints, but only after you have collected your thoughts.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "should have collected" to express regret or a missed opportunity to gather something important, whether it's data, items, or information. It implies that the action would have been beneficial.

Common error

Avoid using "should of collected"; the correct form is "should have collected." "Should've" is a contraction of "should have", not "should of."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have collected" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing regret, recommendation, or criticism regarding a past action. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates that a collection should have occurred but did not. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use across diverse contexts, reinforcing its role in conveying missed opportunities or obligations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "should have collected" is a grammatically sound and usable construction in English, typically employed to express a past obligation or expectation that, unfortunately, wasn't met. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. It carries a tone of regret, advice, or gentle criticism and is most frequently found in News & Media and Scientific contexts. Remember to use "should have" and not "should of". Alternatives include "ought to have gathered" or "were supposed to collect", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to have gathered

This alternative uses "ought to" instead of "should have", conveying a stronger sense of moral obligation.

needed to accumulate

This alternative focuses on the necessity of accumulating something, implying a requirement that was not met.

were supposed to acquire

This phrase indicates a planned or expected acquisition that did not occur.

should have amassed

This suggests a large quantity should have been gathered, emphasizing volume.

ought to have secured

This alternative suggests a moral obligation to secure or obtain something, implying negligence.

had to compile

This highlights the requirement of compiling something, perhaps data or information.

should have taken possession of

Highlights the act of taking ownership, suggesting a missed opportunity for acquisition.

should have ensured the gathering of

This alternative puts emphasis on ensuring that the collection took place.

were required to retrieve

This signifies a mandatory retrieval that was not performed.

needed to have in possession

This emphasizes the requirement of ownership, indicating a lack of possession.

FAQs

How do you use "should have collected" in a sentence?

Use "should have collected" to indicate a past action that would have been advantageous if completed. For example, "We "should have collected" the data before the system crashed."

What is a synonym for "should have collected"?

A synonym for "should have collected" is "ought to have gathered". Both express a missed opportunity or obligation.

Is it correct to say "should of collected"?

No, "should of collected" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "should have collected" or the contraction "should've collected".

What's the difference between "should have collected" and "should be collected"?

"Should have collected" refers to a past action that was not completed but would have been beneficial, while "should be collected" indicates a present or future action that is recommended or necessary. For instance, "The data "should have collected" last week" versus "The data "should be collected" now".