should have terminated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should have terminated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something was expected to end or stop in the past but did not. Example: "The project should have terminated last month, but it continued for another three weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It has advised that he should have terminated the landline agreement, which is absurd – as he was dead.

The Guardian - Money

After that, Ivory Coast referee Joseph Lougbo had two standing-8 counts against the Mongolian, the second of which should have terminated the bout, according to international rules.

Los Angeles Times

As you can imagine, the jokes about how Pattie should have terminated the foetus that turned into the world's biggest pop star – and, according to her, it was a very real possibility – are stacking up across the internet.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

That note quoted Joseph Heller's "Catch-22:" "That's some catch, that Catch-22". NASD argued that Mr. Hintz should not have "terminated" coverage and should have held his stock as long as he had positive recommendations on those stocks.

The New York Times

With this one edict, he seemed to overthrow the declaration of his predecessor, John Paul II, that abortion was murder and that women who have terminated a pregnancy should be excommunicated.

The Guardian - Arts

I have terminated your probation.

The New York Times

She would not have terminated the pregnancy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I have terminated 6 mice this week...

The New Yorker

However, would able autists agree that their potential suffering should have been terminated before birth?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Richard Garside of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies said: "The ministry is continuing to pay G4S and Serco for the supply of electronic tagging equipment months after the contracts should have been terminated, because the timetable for the next generation of satellite tagging technology has slipped and slipped.

The Guardian

In 2006, Shaun Donovan, then the city's housing commissioner, wrote in a letter to the Manhattan borough president, Scott M. Stringer, that the agency, "after reviewing the facts as well as equitable and public policy considerations," determined that the J-51 benefits should have been terminated on the Mitchell-Lama exit date, June 2004.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should have terminated", ensure that the context clearly indicates what action or process is being discussed and why it was advisable or necessary to end it at a specific point in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "should have terminated" when referring to actions that are still ongoing or hypothetical. This phrase indicates a past action that did not occur, so ensure it aligns with the timeline of your sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have terminated" functions as a modal verb construction, expressing a missed opportunity or a recommendation that was not followed regarding a past action. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should have terminated" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express that a past action ought to have ended or been stopped, but wasn't. Ludwig AI indicates that it’s perfectly valid. It's most commonly found in News & Media, Academic, and Science contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. While not overly frequent, it serves a specific purpose of conveying regret or advisement regarding a missed opportunity. Related phrases like "ought to have ended" offer alternative ways to express similar ideas. When writing, it's important to ensure the context clearly defines what action is being discussed and that the timing aligns with a past event that should have concluded.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to have ended

Replaces "should" with "ought to", implying a slightly stronger sense of moral obligation or correctness, while "ended" provides a direct synonym for "terminated".

should have been discontinued

Uses the passive voice to highlight the action performed on an object, and "discontinued" as a direct synonym.

was supposed to conclude

Replaces the modal verb and action verb, offering a meaning that something was planned or expected to finish but did not.

should have been stopped

A more direct and simple synonym, replacing "terminated" with "stopped".

needed to be discontinued

Focuses on the necessity of stopping something, replacing "should have" with "needed to be" and "terminated" with "discontinued".

was required to cease

Implies a formal requirement or obligation to stop, using "was required to" instead of "should have" and "cease" instead of "terminated".

the appropriate action was to terminate

Emphasizes that the suggested action was appropriate in relation to a situation, with a slightly more formal tone.

had to be brought to a halt

Emphasizes the necessity of stopping something abruptly, replacing "terminated" with "brought to a halt".

the correct course was to cease

Highlights the correctness of a course of action, rather than an obligation and substitutes "cease" for "terminate".

it was time to end

Shifts the focus to the timing of the action, using a more descriptive and less formal tone.

FAQs

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

You can use "should have terminated" to express that something was expected or advisable to end in the past but it didn't. For example, "The contract "should have terminated" last year, but it was extended."

What's a less formal way to say "should have terminated"?

Less formal alternatives include "was supposed to end", or "needed to stop". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "should have terminated" and "should have ended"?

While they're very similar, "should have ended" is generally less formal and more widely applicable. "should have terminated" often implies a more formal or official stopping of something.

Is "should have terminated" grammatically correct?

Yes, "should have terminated" is grammatically correct. It uses the modal verb "should" with the perfect infinitive "have terminated" to indicate an unfulfilled past obligation or advisability.