should have disclosed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should have disclosed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that was expected to be revealed or made known in the past but was not. Example: "The company should have disclosed the potential risks associated with the investment to its shareholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"It should have disclosed its lobbying long ago," she said.

The Guardian

She admits she should have disclosed the payments when she wrote about the issue later.

The Economist

And they may find that some companies failed to disclose risks that they should have disclosed.

The New York Times

Mr. Sacane conceded in his filings that he should have disclosed his holdings much earlier.

The New York Times

"They should have disclosed the problem instead of trying to manage the political fallout.

The New York Times

The Times should have disclosed fully to readers why we relied on other news reports.

The New York Times

Whether Mr. Lewis should have disclosed the deterioration at Merrill is the subject of shareholder lawsuits.

The New York Times

Mr. Neal repeatedly suggested that Hewlett-Packard should have disclosed the information.

The New York Times

Critics insist that her husband should have disclosed the loans to parliamentary authorities after he learned of them.

The New York Times

Because some patients might regard the ownership question as significant — your wife certainly does — her physician should have disclosed it.

The New York Times - Magazine

"He should have disclosed it before the campaign," said Howard J. Rubenstein, the New York public relations consultant.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "should have disclosed", ensure that the context clearly establishes who had the obligation to disclose, what information was to be disclosed, and why it was important. This adds clarity and strengthens the argument.

Common error

Avoid using "should have disclosed" without specifying what exactly should have been disclosed. Vague statements weaken your argument and leave room for misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have disclosed" functions as a modal perfect construction expressing a past obligation or expectation that was not met. As Ludwig AI confirms, the construction is correct and frequently used, indicating a recognized grammatical structure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "should have disclosed" is a commonly used modal construction expressing a past obligation that was not fulfilled. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and frequent occurrence in diverse contexts. Analysis reveals its primary function as a critical assessment of past actions, implying a failure to meet expected standards of transparency. Its register varies from neutral to professional, with a high frequency in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When employing this phrase, clarity about the subject and object of disclosure is crucial to avoid vagueness. Alternatives such as "was obligated to reveal" offer nuanced ways to express similar meanings. In conclusion, "should have disclosed" is a powerful tool for highlighting ethical or procedural shortcomings, provided it's used with precision and contextual awareness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should have made public

Focuses on the act of making something known to the public.

was obligated to reveal

Emphasizes a formal duty to disclose.

was required to make known

Highlights a mandatory aspect of disclosure.

was supposed to declare

Implies an expectation or agreement to disclose.

had a responsibility to divulge

Focuses on the ethical obligation to disclose.

ought to have revealed

Suggests a moral or ethical obligation to reveal.

it was their duty to report

Stresses the moral imperative to disclose.

must have unveiled

Implies a strong necessity to unveil information.

they needed to announce

Expresses the necessity of making a public announcement.

were expected to share

Highlights an anticipated action of sharing information.

FAQs

How do I use "should have disclosed" in a sentence?

Use "should have disclosed" to indicate that someone had a duty or responsibility to reveal certain information in the past, but failed to do so. For example: "The company should have disclosed the risks associated with the investment."

What are some alternatives to "should have disclosed"?

Alternatives include "was obligated to reveal", "was required to make known", or "had a responsibility to divulge depending on the context".

What does "should have disclosed" imply?

"Should have disclosed" implies a failure to meet an obligation or expectation to reveal important information. It often suggests criticism or a negative consequence resulting from the omission.

Is it always negative to say someone "should have disclosed" something?

Yes, generally. The phrase "should have disclosed" carries a negative connotation, implying that the failure to disclose was a mistake or a breach of duty. It suggests that transparency was expected but not provided.