should have ended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should have ended" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express that something was expected to conclude at a certain point in the past but did not. Example: "The movie was too long; it should have ended after the first hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Or should have ended.

The New York Times - Sports

That should have ended the matter.

The New York Times

That should have ended the game.

The New York Times

This should have ended the matter".

The New York Times

"The negotiations should have ended.

The Guardian - Business

It should have ended there.

The Guardian - Film

should have ended with an annoyance.

Princeton University

Zarqawi's story should have ended behind bars.

The Guardian

And there the story should have ended.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The incident, already scary, could -- and should -- have ended there.

The New York Times

And thus the Marrakech story could - and probably should - have ended.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "should have ended" to express an expectation or judgment about when something should have concluded. For example, "The meeting "should have ended" an hour ago."

Common error

Avoid using "should have ended" to describe something that is currently ending. Instead, use "should be ending" or "should end soon."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have ended" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase expressing a past conditional state. It indicates that an event or activity was expected or required to conclude at a certain point in the past, but it didn't. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "should have ended" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something was expected to conclude at a certain point in the past but did not. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and broad applicability. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Academia, suggesting a neutral register. To provide variety in your writing, consider alternatives like "ought to have concluded" or "was supposed to finish". Remember, this phrase is best used to describe past expectations and avoid using it to describe something that is currently ending.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to have concluded

Emphasizes moral obligation or advisability rather than a simple expectation.

it should have ceased

A more formal and emphatic way of saying something should have ended.

ought to have stopped

Similar to "ought to have concluded" but with a focus on halting an action.

was supposed to finish

Indicates a prior plan or arrangement that included a conclusion.

should have been completed

Focuses on the completion aspect rather than just ending.

needed to be over

Highlights the necessity of something ending, often due to negative circumstances.

needed to come to a close

Highlights the necessity for something to reach its final stage.

it was meant to end

Suggests a predetermined or intended conclusion.

it had to stop

Emphasizes the inevitability or requirement for cessation.

it was time to cease

Formal way of saying something needed to stop.

FAQs

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

Use "should have ended" to indicate that something was expected to finish at a certain point in the past, but it did not. For example, "The concert "should have ended" by now."

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

You can use alternatives like "ought to have concluded", "was supposed to finish", or "needed to be over" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "should have ended" or "should be ended"?

"Should have ended" is used for past expectations, while "should be ended" is passive and less common. Usually, you'd want to rephrase to avoid the passive form entirely. For example: "The discussion "should have ended" an hour ago" is correct, while "The discussion should be ended by the moderator" is grammatically awkward but could be changed into "The moderator should end the discussion".

What’s the difference between "should have ended" and "was supposed to end"?

"Should have ended" implies a judgment or expectation about when something ought to have finished, while "was supposed to end" simply states a prior plan or arrangement. For example, "The presentation "should have ended" at 3 PM (but it's still going)" versus "The presentation "was supposed to end" at 3 PM (according to the schedule)".