we should be capable of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we should be capable of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing expectations or abilities regarding a task or situation. Example: "In order to succeed in this project, we should be capable of adapting to new challenges as they arise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"We should be capable of scoring more than two runs in a game, too".

The New York Times - Sports

Where were the new ideas we should be capable of with all our wealth and technology?

The Guardian - Opinion

"The FA Cup is a tournament that, if we have the mentality we showed today, we should be capable of competing against anyone," he said.

Independent

To do that we will need to go out and score tries and with the roof shut, we should be capable of playing the free-flowing rugby that can bring them.

Independent

Just as readers might argue about whether a book is "literature" or "trash" - or whether a "self-help" guide is helpful to anyone, much less one's self - we should be capable of asking whether a memoir is truthful, exaggerated, compromised by omission or completely made up.

The Guardian - Opinion

Surely we should be capable of beating a team ranked 48th out of the 53 teams in Europe?

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

But we have seen in recent years, in both the public and private sectors, the woeful results of short-term thinking, and we should be capable even in moments of stress of distinguishing between decisions that clearly do not foster economic growth and those that do, such as investment in the education of our children.

Huffington Post

They show us the extremes of physical achievement we are, or should be, capable of.

The Guardian - Sport

According to these calculations the multichamber drift detector we have constructed should be capable of acquiring one to approximately 300 low-energy (1.5 keV) photons per burst.

Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy

Together these results suggested that the composite PLGA-PAA microneedle designs we had fabricated should be capable of rapidly depositing their PLGA payload upon dissolution of the supportive PAA matrix or pedestal in skin interstitial fluids.

Advanced Functional Materials

But somehow we felt that the Ritz should be capable of laying bare its interior to the noonday sun... View Article By John Cassidy By Jia Tolentino By Alan Burdick By Atul Gawande.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we should be capable of" when expressing a reasonable expectation or belief about the abilities of a group or team in a specific context. For example, "Given our training, we should be capable of completing this task efficiently."

Common error

Avoid using "we should be capable of" to make unrealistic or overly ambitious claims about what can be achieved. Be realistic and consider potential limitations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we should be capable of" functions as an expression of expectation or confidence in a group's ability. As seen in Ludwig, the construction is used to indicate a belief that a group possesses the necessary skills or resources to achieve a particular outcome.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we should be capable of" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express confidence or expectation in a group's ability, as validated by Ludwig AI. Although of uncommon frequency, it appears across various sources, notably News & Media, Science and Academia. It conveys a neutral tone, suitable for both professional and general contexts. To enhance your writing, consider realistic expectations and avoid overstating capabilities. While alternatives like "we must be capable of" offer stronger emphasis, the original phrase remains a versatile tool for projecting potential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we ought to be able to

Uses "ought to" instead of "should", indicating a sense of moral obligation or advisability in addition to capability.

we must be capable of

Replaces "should" with "must", indicating a stronger sense of necessity or requirement.

we need to be able to

Substitutes "should" with "need to", emphasizing a requirement or necessity for possessing the ability.

we have to be capable of

Employs "have to" instead of "should", suggesting an obligation or external pressure to possess the ability.

we are expected to be capable of

Adds the element of expectation, implying that others anticipate our ability to perform.

we are supposed to be capable of

Implies a prior agreement or understanding that we possess the ability.

we are in a position to be capable of

Focuses on the circumstances that enable us to possess the ability.

we are fit to be capable of

Suggests that we are equipped or qualified to possess the ability.

we are enabled to be capable of

Highlights the factors or resources that make our ability possible.

we are empowered to be capable of

Focuses on the authority or agency that grants us the ability.

FAQs

How can I use "we should be capable of" in a sentence?

Use "we should be capable of" to express an expectation or confidence in a group's ability. For example, "With our resources, we should be capable of finishing the project on time."

What is a stronger alternative to "we should be capable of"?

For a more forceful statement, consider using "we must be capable of" or "we need to be able to" to emphasize necessity.

Is it appropriate to use "we should be capable of" in formal writing?

Yes, "we should be capable of" is suitable for formal writing, especially when discussing expectations or projecting abilities in a professional context.

What's the difference between "we should be capable of" and "we should be able to"?

While similar, "we should be capable of" emphasizes inherent ability or potential, whereas "we should be able to" focuses on the conditions or circumstances that enable the action.