supposed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "supposed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate an expectation or assumption about something. Example: "You are supposed to submit your report by Friday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But I look at people who have been in politics for five, 10, 15 years, and muck up, you see them muck up and think, 'You guys are supposed to be pro!' "People that have gone to Oxbridge, had thousands spent on their education, and I mean they are royally mucking up".

The Guardian - Sport

It was not supposed to be like this.

The New York Times - Sports

In the same way, silence about male victims reinforces unhealthy expectations about men and their supposed invulnerability.

The New York Times

The academy dismissed claims that its announcement had been scooped by the Aint-It-Cool-News website which ran an early list of supposed nominees.

The Guardian - Film

Back then, it was still widely supposed that every girl's dream was to marry a handsome prince and live happily ever after in a Tyrolean castle attended upon by mice and dressed each morning by bluebirds.

The Guardian - Film

While many athletes are genuinely grateful to the companies that fund their training bills, there's always something unnerving about watching people sing for their supper when they're supposed to be speaking from the heart.

The Guardian - Opinion

According to the sculptor, Blind Light, as the installation was called, undermined what architecture ought to do: "Architecture is supposed to be the location of security and certainty about where you are.

The Guardian - Arts

Another witness was a British man who was supposed to join Richard Reid in a shoe-bomb attack in December 2001 but who quit the conspiracy during a trip home after his parents warned him that he better not be a terrorist.

The Guardian

Related: The Guardian view on care workers: undervalued, underpaid | Editorial Yet care providers have a point when they ask how they are supposed to make ends meet on the rates they are paid by council commissioners.

The Guardian

Coffee farmers and their families are supposed to benefit from what are called partnership agreements between the EU and its member states' former colonies.

The Guardian - Opinion

The prime minister will not get a substantive renegotiation of the UK's terms of membership before 2017, so the referendum question will not be about his supposed diplomatic triumph but rather: "Do you want to stay in the present EU, with all its deficiencies and problems?" The referendum will cause grave financial and economic instability and make the UK a laughing stock across the globe.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "supposed" to indicate an expectation or obligation, but ensure the context clearly conveys whether the expectation was met or not. For example, "The train was supposed to arrive at 10 AM, but it was delayed."

Common error

Avoid using "supposedly" when you mean "supposed to". "Supposedly" means 'according to what is generally believed' while "supposed to" indicates an obligation or expectation. Example: Incorrect: "He is supposedly to be here by now." Correct: "He is supposed to be here by now."

Linguistic Context

The word "supposed" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate expectations, assumptions, or obligations. Ludwig's examples show its use in various contexts, from presumed truths to intended actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "supposed" is a versatile adjective used to indicate expectations, assumptions, or obligations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in journalistic contexts. Common usage includes expressing presumed truths, intended actions, or general expectations. While the word is quite common, ensure you are using "supposed to" correctly, and not confusing it with "supposedly". Alternatives such as ""expected to"" and "meant to" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meant to

Indicates intention or design, often implying a plan or purpose.

expected to

Emphasizes anticipation or likelihood based on prior knowledge or agreement.

presumed to be

Highlights an assumption made in the absence of concrete evidence.

assumed to be

Focuses on a belief taken for granted without verification.

alleged to be

Suggests an assertion that may or may not be true, often used in legal or journalistic contexts.

understood to be

Conveys a common agreement or general knowledge about something.

reputed to be

Indicates widespread belief or hearsay about someone or something.

purported to be

Implies a claim that is presented but may be doubtful or false.

ostensible

Refers to the apparent or outwardly presented reason or purpose.

nominal

Describes something that exists in name only, often differing from reality.

FAQs

How can I use "supposed to" in a sentence?

The phrase "supposed to" indicates an expectation, obligation, or common belief. For example: "You are "supposed to" submit your report by Friday" or "The meeting is "supposed to" start at 2 PM".

What is the difference between "supposed to" and "supposedly"?

"Supposed to" indicates an expectation or obligation, while "supposedly" means 'according to what is generally believed'. For instance, "He is "supposed to" call me tonight" (expectation), versus "He is "supposedly" a millionaire" (general belief).

Are "expected to" and "supposed to" interchangeable?

While similar, "expected to" emphasizes anticipation based on prior knowledge, while "supposed to" can also imply obligation. You can use "expected to" when something is anticipated, but "supposed to" is better when an obligation exists. For example, "You are "expected to" attend the meeting", or "You are "supposed to" follow the rules".

What can I say instead of "supposed to"?

You can use alternatives like "meant to", ""expected to"", or "obliged to" depending on the context.