should have reported

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should have reported" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express that someone failed to report something in the past when they were expected to do so. Example: "He should have reported the incident to his supervisor immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"I should have reported her.

The New Yorker

5am By now roughly nine out of 10 areas should have reported.

The Guardian

The article should have reported that the countersuit was dismissed on the merits.

The New York Times

If a teacher saw such things, he should have reported it, the lawyer said.

The New York Times

Although his boss told him that, he knew it was related to his job and should have reported it".

The New York Times

But, the committee said, Dr. Togias should have reported the first subject's experience to the review board.

The New York Times

Ginsberg also said The Times should have reported that other television station owners wanted to increase the cap too.

The New York Times

But a closer look at the budget office report suggests that the number everyone should have reported was $1.055 trillion.

The New York Times

Mr. Graham has admitted that he should have reported the money but denied that he considered it a bribe.

The New York Times

By law, clinic employees should have reported the incident as statutory rape but did not do so.

The New York Times

"We should have reported that uranium was used during this experiment," a senior South Korean Foreign Ministry official told reporters at a briefing in Seoul.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "should have reported" to express regret or criticism about a missed opportunity to report something important. It often implies that a negative consequence resulted from the failure to report. For example, "The company should have reported the safety concerns immediately."

Common error

Avoid using "would have reported" when you mean "should have reported". "Would have reported" indicates a hypothetical situation, while "should have reported" indicates a missed obligation or a failure to act appropriately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have reported" functions as a modal perfect construction, expressing regret, criticism, or a missed obligation regarding a past action. It indicates that someone failed to report something, and that this failure was undesirable. The examples Ludwig provides confirm this.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should have reported" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to express regret or criticism over a past failure to report something. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is typically used in News & Media contexts. When writing, remember that "should have reported" indicates a missed obligation. Avoid confusing it with similar phrases like "could have reported" or the incorrect "should of reported". Alternatives include "ought to have reported" or "was supposed to report". Be precise and clear about the reason why something deserved or needed to be reported.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to have reported

A more formal alternative expressing the same sense of duty or obligation.

was supposed to report

Indicates an expectation or requirement that was not met.

had a duty to report

Emphasizes the moral or legal obligation to report.

was required to report

Highlights a formal rule or regulation that mandated reporting.

needed to have reported

Focuses on the necessity of reporting something.

it would have been best to report

Suggests a recommendation rather than a strict obligation.

should have made a report

A slightly different phrasing that emphasizes the act of creating a report.

it was incumbent to report

A more formal way of saying it was their duty to report.

reporting was advisable

Implies that reporting was the recommended course of action.

reporting would have been appropriate

Suggests that reporting would have been the correct or suitable action.

FAQs

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

Use "should have reported" to indicate that someone failed to report something in the past, and that this failure was a mistake or oversight. For example, "The incident "should have been reported" to the authorities immediately".

What's the difference between "should have reported" and "could have reported"?

"Should have reported" implies an obligation or duty that was not fulfilled. "Could have reported" suggests the possibility or ability to report, without necessarily implying an obligation. For example, "He "could have reported" the issue, but chose not to".

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

You can use alternatives like "ought to have reported", "was supposed to report", or "was required to report" depending on the context.

Is "should of reported" correct?

No, "should of reported" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "should have reported". The confusion arises because "should've" (the contraction of "should have") sounds similar to "should of".