should have concerned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should have concerned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something was expected to be a source of worry or interest in the past. Example: "The lack of response from the team should have concerned the project manager."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But what should have concerned the Yankees more than an overdue loss to a good team was an exasperating outing by Vazquez.

The New York Times - Sports

As if to prove it you go on to say that "the top 20% of earners pay 69% of federal taxes, and that share is rising .Republicans may well be perturbed that uneven tax burdens erode democratic values, but they should have concerned themselves long ago with the unbalanced distribution of income.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's insulting to consultants and the rest of us that people should have concerns about patient safety just because junior doctors go on strike.

The Guardian

He brushed off suggestions that he might have been disappointed that he had dropped out of the top 10 or that the Jets should have concerns about his throwing ability.

The New York Times - Sports

Even Facebook users who relish the thought of making strangers think twice about using Facebook to pitch them, bug them or stalk them via messages should have concerns about the experiment.

Huffington Post

It should have concern for the future, sure, but it shouldn't be preoccupied with what hasn't happened yet or won't.

WikiHow

The fracas, they say, should never have concerned the West, which has no great interest in the place.

The Economist

Alabama should have been concerned.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Tauzin said that Firestone's safety officials should have been concerned about the warranty information.

The New York Times

"The board should have been concerned about the acquisitions of the newspapers, for example," he said, "not necessarily because of the amount, but because of the purchases themselves".

The New York Times

Clearly, if there was a member of Hope of the States anyone should have been concerned about, it was the singer.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Using "should have concerned" implies a missed opportunity for proactive action. Make sure your sentence reflects this implication by highlighting the potential negative consequences that could have been avoided.

Common error

A common mistake is using "should be concerned" when the situation calls for "should have concerned". The latter refers to a past opportunity that was missed, while the former suggests a present or future concern.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have concerned" functions as a modal construction expressing a missed opportunity for worry or attention. It indicates that a past situation warranted concern, but seemingly did not receive it. As Ludwig AI suggests, this construction is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

11%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should have concerned" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express that something in the past warranted worry or attention but seemingly didn't receive it. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in various contexts, especially in news and media. While several alternatives exist, such as "ought to have worried" or "needed to be concerned", "should have concerned" maintains a clear and concise way to convey regret or criticism regarding a past oversight. Be mindful of tense to avoid confusion, and clarify the subject of concern for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to have worried

Replaces "should" with "ought to", offering a slightly more formal tone while maintaining the same meaning.

should have been worried about

Emphasizes the emotional aspect of being concerned or anxious.

should have worried about

Adds "about" to explicitly state the object of concern, which can provide more clarity.

needed to be concerned

Shifts the emphasis to necessity, indicating that concern was required or essential.

should have taken seriously

Indicates that something deserved more attention and consideration than it received.

should have paid attention to

Focuses on the lack of awareness or heed given to something important.

should have been alarmed by

Emphasizes the potential danger or warning signs that were missed.

should have given thought to

Highlights the lack of prior consideration or planning.

needed to address

Focuses on the necessity of dealing with a problem or issue.

should have heeded

Emphasizes the lack of attention to a warning or advice.

FAQs

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

Use "should have concerned" to indicate that something in the past should have caused worry or attention, but it apparently did not. For example, "The rising costs /s/should+have+concerned the finance department."

What's a more formal alternative to "should have concerned"?

A more formal alternative is "ought to have worried". For instance, "The company's declining profits /s/ought+to+have+worried the shareholders."

Is it correct to say "should be concerned" instead of "should have concerned"?

The correctness depends on the context. "Should be concerned" suggests a present or future concern, while "should have concerned" implies a missed opportunity for concern in the past. They are not interchangeable.

What's the difference between "should have concerned" and "should have worried"?

While similar, "should have concerned" implies something should have prompted attention or action, whereas "should have worried" emphasizes the emotional aspect of feeling anxious or concerned.