should have distributed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should have distributed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a past obligation or expectation that was not fulfilled regarding the distribution of something. Example: "The team should have distributed the materials before the meeting to ensure everyone was prepared."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It is the upside, Newell says, of letting customers take total control, and the practice shouldn't be limited to videogames: "George Lucas should have distributed the 'source code' to Star Wars.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He said that the list should have been distributed to the supervisors earlier than mid-May and that it would be difficult to comb through it in time for the primaries in August.

The New York Times

In a brief ruling, just four paragraphs long, the court in San Diego concurred that the company incorrectly allowed shift managers and supervisors in its California outlets to dip into gratuities left by patrons when the money should have been distributed only to baristas making and dispensing food and drinks.

Independent

She then filed the will in a Texas court, got appointed executrix, and promptly sued the sisters and their families for $90 million, claiming the bond portfolio should have been distributed to her as part of the estate.

Forbes

As discussed in the 'Results and discussion' section, a questionnaire of limited length and sophistication had to be developed and additionally should have been distributed in a cost-effective and rapid manner.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

If the variable of interest was comparing DE to EEOD, the exercise sessions should have been distributed over 7 10 days.

Diabetes Care

Furthermore, because we identified our subcohorts based on their BPH treatment noted on the first hospitalisation for BPH (entry into the cohort), a small amount of person time attributed to the non-surgical subcohorts should have been distributed to the surgical subcohorts.

British Journal of Cancer

"Congressman Rangel has distributed deceptive fliers claiming to have the Presidents' endorsement, when in reality the President said he should end his career with dignity," Campoamor wrote.

Huffington Post

Either way, you should have and distribute the cellphone number to various people before you leave the United States.

The New York Times

Miss a minimum required distribution and you'll get hit with a 50% penalty tax on the amount you should have taken; distribute an IRA directly to an estate and your children lose the chance to stretch out its tax deferral over their own life spans.

Forbes

In contrast, the samples from different MoAs should have a correlation distributed according to the distribution of the population correlation.

BMC Systems Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should have distributed", ensure the context clearly indicates what was supposed to be distributed and to whom or where.

Common error

Avoid using "should have distributed" when you mean to express a present or future intention. Instead, use "should distribute" or "should be distributing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have distributed" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a past obligation or expectation that was not fulfilled. It implies a sense of regret or criticism regarding the lack of distribution. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should have distributed" is a modal verb phrase used to express that something was expected to be distributed in the past but was not, often carrying a sense of regret or criticism. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in diverse contexts, spanning from news and media to scientific literature. Its versatility allows it to convey a range of sentiments, from expressing unmet obligations to critiquing past decisions. When employing this phrase, it's beneficial to use it when expressing dissatisfaction about how something was not handled. Alternatives such as "ought to have distributed" and "was supposed to distribute" can offer subtle variations in meaning and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to have distributed

Emphasizes a moral obligation that wasn't met in the distribution.

was supposed to distribute

Indicates an expectation or plan for distribution that didn't occur.

needed to have distributed

Highlights the necessity of distribution in the past.

should have allocated

Focuses on the assignment of resources for distribution.

should have disseminated

Emphasizes the widespread sharing of information or materials.

should have circulated

Highlights the act of passing something around to a group.

should have provided

Focuses on making something available for distribution.

should have issued

Highlights the formal release or distribution of something.

should have made available

Emphasizes the act of ensuring accessibility for distribution.

should have delivered

Focuses on the physical act of transporting and distributing.

FAQs

What does "should have distributed" mean?

The phrase "should have distributed" expresses regret or criticism about a past action, indicating that something wasn't distributed as it ideally should have been.

What can I say instead of "should have distributed"?

You can use alternatives like "ought to have distributed", "was supposed to distribute", or "needed to have distributed" depending on the context.

How to use "should have distributed" in a sentence?

You can use "should have distributed" to express that someone failed to distribute something that was expected. Example: "The flyers should have been distributed before the event."

What's the difference between "should have distributed" and "should distribute"?

"Should have distributed" refers to a past action that didn't occur, expressing regret or criticism. "Should distribute" refers to a present or future action that is recommended or expected.