should have expressed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should have expressed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone failed to communicate something in the past that they ought to have communicated. Example: "In hindsight, I realize I should have expressed my concerns about the project earlier."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

It took two months for Mr. Giuliani to say, on the eve of abandoning his Senate campaign, that he should have expressed sympathy to the family.

The New York Times

Patients' groups and some Democrats said Mr. Bush should have expressed his views three months ago, when the Senate was debating legislation on the issue.

The New York Times

"I do interviews every day and people may well quibble over particular words that I have used, and if people want to say that I should have expressed myself differently, that's their right," he said.

The Guardian

When J.F.K. was running for President, he made doubts about his callowness worse by saying, when asked at a shopping mall about the U-2 spy-plane incident, that Eisenhower should have expressed "regret that the flight did take place….

The New Yorker

The point I was trying to make, and which I should have expressed more clearly, was that neither created the genres in which they worked: Dylan didn't invent folk rock and Warhol didn't invent pop art.

The New Yorker

In both reports, the PCC concluded that there was no evidence that phone hacking was widespread, when at best it should have expressed itself in far more non-committal (if not wholly non committal) terms.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

West agreed that Houghton had been lured into saying things he should not have expressed, saying: "Maybe he strayed a little further than he should have done".

The Guardian

T.I. later apologized saying he shouldn't have commented before understanding the situation, PR code for he shouldn't have expressed how he really feels because some people won't think it's cool, you know.

Huffington Post

The data in Chart 2 should also have expressed debt as a multiple of EBITDA.

The Economist

She should not have expressed so much anger because frankly, there has been little space or time in this democracy for the unpredictable feelings of victims and survivors of torture and losses beyond imagining.

The Guardian

I can only put it down to the stress and frustration of the incident – although that is not a validation, and I should never have expressed them in that way".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should have expressed", consider the tone and audience. It can sound critical, so use it thoughtfully, especially in professional settings.

Common error

Avoid using "should have expressed" excessively in situations where it comes across as purely accusatory. Instead, focus on constructive feedback or solutions, rather than dwelling on past communication failures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have expressed" functions as a modal construction expressing regret, criticism, or a recommendation about a past action that involved communication. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates that someone failed to communicate something in the past that they ought to have communicated.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should have expressed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to convey that someone missed an opportunity to communicate something important in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable. While it appears across various domains, it's prevalent in news, science, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful of the potential for criticism and ensure that its deployment aligns with your intended tone and audience. Alternatives like "ought to have conveyed" or "needed to articulate" may offer more nuanced ways to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should have communicated

Is a synonym with almost identical meaning.

should have conveyed

Focuses on the transmission of a message or idea.

ought to have conveyed

Replaces "should" with "ought to", indicating a moral obligation.

should have articulated

Emphasizes clarity and precision in expression.

needed to articulate

Focuses on the necessity of clear expression.

might have communicated

Suggests a possibility rather than a necessity.

could have voiced

Highlights the act of speaking or verbalizing.

it would have been better to express

Offers a more elaborate way of expressing the same idea.

it was imperative to express

Highlights the importance of the expression.

was remiss in not expressing

Directly states a failure to express something.

FAQs

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

You can use "should have expressed" to indicate a missed opportunity to communicate something in the past. For example, "I should have expressed my concerns earlier in the meeting."

What is a good alternative to "should have expressed"?

Alternatives include "ought to have conveyed", "needed to articulate", or "might have communicated", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "should have expressed" grammatically correct?

Yes, "should have expressed" is grammatically correct. It uses the modal verb "should" with the perfect infinitive "have expressed" to indicate something that ought to have happened in the past but didn't.

What's the difference between "should have expressed" and "should express"?

"Should have expressed" refers to a past action that did not occur, implying regret or a missed opportunity. "Should express" is a suggestion for a present or future action. For example, "I should have expressed my gratitude yesterday" versus "I should express my gratitude tomorrow".