should have sent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'should have sent' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase to express that something should have been done in the past, but it was not. Example sentence: I should have sent my essay in last week, but I forgot.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We should have sent the poets.

The Guardian

Did I think we should have sent for Broughton?

The Guardian

Of course: maybe Hewitt should have sent her the script.

The Guardian

We should have sent weapons and medical aid.

The New York Times

"They should have sent you to Eastbourne," he said.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We should have sent more people to jail.

The Guardian

At the very least, she should have sent her R.S.V.P. in response to each invitation.

The New York Times

Then you should have sent St . Judedown the Dock Road.

The New Yorker

Personally I think the referee should have sent him off for diving.

Independent

Hard times and popular revulsion against Wall Street should have sent sponsors fleeing.

The Economist

On their view, curtailment of appraisal should have sent premia upwards.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Make sure that the context clearly indicates what action should have been done. It's essential for the listener to understand what "should have sent" refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "should of sent" instead of "should have sent". The correct form uses the auxiliary verb 'have', not the preposition 'of'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have sent" functions as a modal perfect construction, expressing past obligation, regret, or criticism. It indicates that a particular action of sending something was advisable or necessary in the past but did not occur.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should have sent" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express regret, criticism, or suggestion regarding a past action of sending. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's frequently found in news and media contexts, indicating a neutral register. When using "should have sent", ensure proper tense and context to avoid grammatical errors or misinterpretations. Consider alternatives like "ought to have dispatched" for more formal communication. This tool provides real-world examples and helpful writing tips.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it would have been better to forward

Directly states the superiority of sending as an alternative action.

ought to have dispatched

Emphasizes duty or obligation more strongly than "should have sent".

it was preferable to have relayed

Indicates a favorable sending action that did not occur.

must have forwarded

Indicates a stronger degree of certainty that something should have been sent.

ideally, they'd have dispatched

Expresses a sense of the perfect scenario that differs from reality.

needed to mail

Focuses on the necessity of sending something through postal service.

would have benefited from sending

Highlights the potential positive outcome of sending something.

it was advisable to transmit

Suggests that sending something would have been a prudent decision.

it would have been wise to remit

More focused on money sending.

they were to convey

This option has a higher degree of formality.

FAQs

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

You can use "should have sent" to express regret or a missed opportunity. For instance, "I "should have sent" the email yesterday."

What's a more formal alternative to "should have sent"?

A more formal alternative to "should have sent" could be "ought to have dispatched" or "it would have been advisable to transmit" depending on the context.

What does "should have sent" imply?

The phrase "should have sent" implies that a particular action of sending something was necessary or desirable in the past but did not occur, often expressing regret or criticism.

Is there a difference between "should have sent" and "needed to send"?

"Should have sent" expresses a missed opportunity or regret, while "needed to send" simply indicates a past necessity. For example, "I "should have sent" the thank you note (but I didn't)", versus "I "needed to send" the documents urgently."