Understanding the Correct Use of "Should Be" and "Ought To Be"

As we delve into the nuances of English grammar, understanding the correct use of should and ought to is crucial. These words, despite their similar spellings, serve different grammatical and semantic roles.

Grammatical Roles of Should and Ought To

The words should and shall share a similar origin, just like would and will. While shall is more commonly used in the future tense, should often plays the role of will in conditional sentences. For instance:

‘If you drink this, you should be fine by tomorrow.’

The term ought to shares many of the same uses as should, but it has a slightly different emphasis, particularly in terms of duty or obligation. Where should might imply an expectation, ought to usually implies a moral or ethical necessity. To illustrate, consider the following:

‘The bus should arrive soon.’ vs. ‘The bus ought to arrive soon.’

In the first sentence, the speaker is expressing a prediction or expectation. In the second, the speaker believes the bus has a moral or imperative reason to arrive soon.

Synonyms and Regional Usage

Should and ought to are often used interchangeably, especially in American English. In my experience, the regional variation in usage is subtle. In some areas, ought may be more common, while should is more widespread. For instance:

‘I ought to obey the rules’ vs. ‘I should obey the rules’.

Despite minor regional differences, these two phrases carry the same meaning.

Grammatical Differences and Context

While should is often used to instruct or compel, ought to is typically used to express necessity or the inability to neglect. For example:

‘You should book your flight now’ vs. ‘You ought to book your flight now’.

In the first sentence, the speaker is suggesting an action. In the second, the speaker implies a moral or ethical necessity.

When discussing past actions, the negative forms are also used similarly, such as:

‘You should not have done it’ vs. ‘You ought not to have done it’.

Here, both express that an action could have been avoided, though the first form is slightly more common in everyday speech.

Moral Obligation and Ethics

Ought to is often used when emphasizing a moral or ethical obligation. For instance:

‘You really ought to give him back the money you owe him.’

This phrase stresses the moral or ethical duty rather than just a prediction or expectation.

The Common Usage versus Formal Grammar

When it comes to the use of shall and will, shall is less frequently used in everyday speech, while should is more common. The distinction between shall and will for the first person versus will for the second and third persons is generally disregarded in modern usage. The prescriptivist notion of shall for formality is largely disregarded:

‘I probably have not used [shall] more than once or twice in the last dozen years. Maybe even the last four dozen years.’

Usage varies, but the distinction is becoming more obsolete in everyday language.

Summary

In summary, should and ought to are both used to suggest or recommend actions, but ought to adds a sense of moral or ethical duty. Meanwhile, shall is less commonly used, often replaced by should or will in modern English.

Whether you or your audience use should, ought to, shall, or will, the key is to understand the subtle nuances and use them appropriately to convey your intended message clearly and effectively.