should have secured

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should have secured" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a past obligation or expectation that was not fulfilled, often indicating regret or criticism. Example: "The company should have secured the contract before the deadline to avoid losing the client."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

They should have secured the Humvees, to keep from getting robbed.

The New York Times

United should have secured a rare victory in Spain without recourse to controversy.

The Guardian - Sport

Prasanna Jayawardene's score of 154 not out should have secured his place.

The New York Times - Sports

Instead of the natural 10... 0-0, Danielian should have secured the c4 square by playing 10... b5.

The New York Times

This bizarre but creepily successful casting and performance alone should have secured Mr. Haley a prominent place in Hollywood lore.

The New York Times

The Conservatives were supposed to win Bolton North East, but they didn't; they should have secured Gedling, but fell short.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

He should've secured the border first!

Huffington Post

A key concept in a data-driven utility is that every internal stakeholder who can create value from data should have secure access to that data.

Big Data Application in Power Systems

Of course, I am as happy as any other parent that my children should have "secure and improved" maths, language and literacy skills.

Independent

The tragic deaths of the seven children who drowned in the basement at the Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore suggests that, at a minimum, all schools and public office buildings should have secure shelters.

The New Yorker

A joint Prisoners Education Trust and Prison Reform Trust report in 2013 found that 74% of the prison governors and managers who responded to the survey agreed that prisoners should have secure and controlled access to the internet; 94% agreed ICT skills were necessary for everyday living.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "should have secured" when expressing regret or criticism about a past action that wasn't taken. For example, "They "should have secured" the perimeter before nightfall".

Common error

Avoid using "should have secured" when referring to a present or future action. It specifically refers to something that should have happened in the past, but did not. Instead of saying "We should have secured the deal now", say "We should secure the deal now."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have secured" functions as a modal perfect construction. It expresses a sense of obligation or advisability regarding an action that was meant to be completed in the past, but was not. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, showcasing numerous examples where the phrase indicates a missed opportunity or unfulfilled expectation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "should have secured" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to express a missed opportunity or a past obligation that was not fulfilled. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides diverse examples across various contexts, including news, sports, and academia. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, it often carries a tone of regret or criticism. When using this phrase, be mindful of the tense and ensure it accurately reflects a past action. Alternatives such as "ought to have secured" or "needed to have secured" can be used to convey similar meanings, but with slightly different nuances. The phrase appears frequently in news media, highlighting its relevance in discussing past events and decisions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to have secured

Uses "ought to" instead of "should have", conveying a similar sense of obligation.

needed to have secured

Emphasizes the necessity of securing something in the past.

was supposed to have secured

Indicates an expectation that something should have been secured.

failed to secure

Focuses on the failure to secure something.

missed the opportunity to secure

Highlights the lost opportunity to secure something.

didn't manage to secure

Indicates a lack of success in securing something.

were unable to secure

Emphasizes the inability to secure something.

should have guaranteed

Focuses on guaranteeing something instead of just securing it.

should have protected

Suggests a failure to protect something.

should have ensured

Highlights the lack of ensuring something.

FAQs

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

The phrase "should have secured" is used to express regret or indicate that an action was necessary but not completed in the past. For example, "The company "should have secured" the contract before the deadline."

What are some alternatives to "should have secured"?

You can use alternatives such as "ought to have secured", "needed to have secured", or "was supposed to have secured" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "should have secure" instead of "should have secured"?

No, "should have secure" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "should have secured", where "secured" is the past participle of the verb "secure".

What is the difference between "should have secured" and "should secure"?

"Should have secured" refers to a past action that was not completed but was necessary, while "should secure" refers to a present or future action that is recommended. For example, "They "should have secured" the building last night" (past), versus "They should secure the building tonight" (future).