should have written

USAGE SUMMARY

"should have written" is a valid and usable phrase in written English.
It is used when we want to express regret for not having done something in the past. For example: "I should have written to him sooner; it would have made a difference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Wagner should have written, "like me").

The New Yorker

We should have written "Nuevo León".

The Economist

I should have written it down.

The New York Times

I should have written The Expendables.

The Guardian - Film

JANE: You should have written something funny.

The New Yorker

Perhaps he should have written it as a play.

The Economist

It's short notice — I should have written you about it.

The New Yorker

No. 8: I should have written down the ratio.

The New Yorker

I probably should have written this in a coffee shop.

The New Yorker

"Maybe I should have written, 'You are loved,' " he said.

The New York Times

"This is the article you should have written," it read.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "should have written", consider the tone. It often implies a degree of self-reproach or criticism, so ensure it aligns with your intended message.

Common error

Avoid using "should of written"; the correct form is "should have written". "Should've" is a contraction of "should have", not "should of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have written" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing regret, obligation, or a missed opportunity in the past. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is used to indicate something that would have been beneficial or necessary to write.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

18%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should have written" is a versatile phrase used to express regret or a missed opportunity concerning past writing actions. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use across various contexts, from news and media to academic writing. It's important to use the correct form ("should have" not "should of") and be mindful of the tone, as it often implies self-reproach. Alternatives like "ought to have penned" or "needed to document" may be suitable depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should have documented

Focuses on the action of documenting, emphasizing the lack of proper record-keeping.

ought to have penned

Replaces "should" with "ought to" and "written" with "penned", emphasizing a moral obligation and using a more formal verb for writing.

regret not drafting

Uses "regret" to express remorse and "drafting" as a more formal term for writing a preliminary version.

needed to document

Shifts the focus to the necessity of documenting something, implying a requirement that was not met.

wish I'd recorded

Expresses a wish for having recorded something, using a contraction and a more informal verb.

I'm sorry I didn't record

Directly expresses regret for not recording something, using a simpler sentence structure.

it would have been advisable to write

Presents a formal and indirect way of saying that writing something would have been a good idea.

hindsight suggests a written account was needed

Uses a passive voice to indicate that a written account was necessary in retrospect.

in retrospect, documenting would have been beneficial

Emphasizes the benefit that documenting would have provided, using a more complex sentence structure.

it's a shame I didn't put it in writing

Expresses regret using a colloquial phrase for not having written something down.

FAQs

How to use "should have written" in a sentence?

Use "should have written" to express regret that something was not written in the past. For example, "I "should have written" that letter sooner" or "He "should have written" down the instructions".

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

You can use alternatives like "ought to have penned", "needed to document", or "wish I'd recorded" depending on the context.

Is "should of written" grammatically correct, or is it "should have written"?

Only "should have written" is grammatically correct. "Should of written" is a common error arising from the contraction "should've", which stands for "should have".

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

"Should have written" implies a moral obligation or expectation that was not fulfilled, while "could have written" suggests a possibility or ability that was not acted upon.