should

[shood]

auxiliary verb

1. must; ought (used to indicate duty, propriety, or expediency).

   You should not do that.

   All of this is irresponsible alarmism and should be dismissed as such.

2. (used to express an expectation).

   They should arrive around dinner time.

   The paper you need should be in the drawer.

3. (used to express a correction).

   In your first sentence, that semicolon should be a comma.

4. (used to express a potential future event or condition).

   Were he to arrive, I should be pleased.

5. would (used to make a statement less direct or blunt).

   I should think you would apologize.

6. simple past tense of shall.

noun

1. a demand or requirement; something a person must or ought to do.

   Placing too many shoulds or unrealistic expectations on yourself can contribute to stress.

   It’s hard to find joy anymore with all these oughts and shoulds.

should

/ ʃʊd /

verb

1. the past tense of shall : used as an auxiliary verb to indicate that an action is considered by the speaker to be obligatory ( you should go ) or to form the subjunctive mood with I or we ( I should like to see you; if I should be late, go without me ) See also shall

Usage

Should has, as its most common meaning in modern English, the sense ought as in I should go to the graduation, but I don't see how I can. However, the older sense of the subjunctive of shall is often used with I or we to indicate a more polite form than would: I should like to go, but I can't. In much speech and writing, should has been replaced by would in contexts of this kind, but it remains in formal English when a conditional subjunctive is used: should he choose to remain, he would be granted asylum

Confusables Note

Rules similar to those for choosing between shall and will have long been advanced for should and would, but again the rules have had little effect on usage. In most constructions, would is the auxiliary chosen regardless of the person of the subject: If our allies would support the move, we would abandon any claim to sovereignty. You would be surprised at the complexity of the directions. Because the main function of should in modern American English is to express duty, necessity, etc. ( You should get your flu shot before winter comes ), its use for other purposes, as to form a subjunctive, can produce ambiguity, at least initially: I should get my flu shot if I were you. Furthermore, should seems an affectation to many Americans when used in certain constructions quite common in British English: Had I been informed, I should (American would ) have called immediately. I should (American would ) really prefer a different arrangement. As with shall and will, most educated native speakers of American English do not follow the textbook rule in making a choice between should and would. See also shall.

Word History and Origins

Origin of should¹

Middle English sholde, Old English sc(e)olde; shall

Word History and Origins

Origin of should¹

Old English sceold; see _shall

Idioms and Phrases

• (should) get one's head examined

Synonym Study

See must ¹.

Example Sentences

“The military should not be acting as a domestic police force in this country except in the most extreme circumstances,” said Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Tragically, her death not only could have, but should have been prevented,” he stated in the complaint.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For the deputy defence minister, the final decision in such circumstances should rest with a human, although AI would make it "easier to decide".

Read more on BBC

From the onset, Warner insisted “Aztec Batman” should be produced in Spanish first, and then dubbed into English.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In a statement Thursday, a UMG spokesperson said, “From the outset, this suit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day. We’re pleased with the court’s dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully promoting Drake’s music and investing in his career.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allow 
• become 
• consider 
• enjoy 
• experience 
• feel 
• know 
• leave 
• need 
• permit 
• see 
• suffer 
• undergo