could be vs should be

Both "could be" and "should be" are correct phrases, but they are used in different contexts. "Could be" is used to express possibility or uncertainty, while "should be" is used to indicate obligation, expectation, or likelihood.

Last updated: March 15, 2024 • 1262 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express possibility or uncertainty.

"could be "

Use "could be" when you want to talk about something that is possible or uncertain. It implies a level of doubt or speculation.

Examples:

It could be raining outside.
The package could be delivered tomorrow.
She could be at home by now.
The answer could be in the back of the book.
The noise could be coming from the basement.

Show examples from the web [+]

This could be a janitor who got fired a year ago, could be one of your agents... could be you.
It could be 1927, and your name could be Ruth Bixby, yours could be May Smith.
Instruction concerning surveillance, monitoring and reporting could be distributed to growers purchasing genetically modified seed stocks and contractual agreements could be formulated as a condition of sale or use.
It could be a phone number, it could be an e-mail address, it could be a postal address.
It could be the flu, it could be appendicitis.
Her research apparently shows that there could be DNA samples inside dinosaur fossils that could be extracted and it could be used to actually recreate one or more dinosaurs, to actually give us a real Jurassic Park.
The randomness could be orchestrated or it could be simple opportunity.
It could be them, it could be Hollings...
This guy could be anyone, he could be...
Like 34 could be three-four... 92 could be nine-two.
But anyone could be accused, anyone could be next.
This could be the Statue of Liber... this could be golden gate bridge.
The teapot could be full, it could be empty.
It could be at one dollar; it could be 1,000 dollars.
They could be communist, they could be liberal, they could be fascist or Islamic.
You could be American-Italian; you could be American-Irish; you could be British-Pakistani.
The use of the disjunctive conjunction 'or' could be misleading, since it could be mistakenly understood as meaning that the BCD could be omitted, although it is indispensable in any domestic or export trade.
It could be an actual lamb, I-it could be an innocent of some kind, but I think that could be his next kill.
If you took the idea of fractal technology further, take a membrane, shrinking it down constantly like nature does - that could be a seat for a chair; it could be a sole for a sports shoe; it could be a car blending into seats.
It could be the Biblical flood of Noah, it could be Zeus' deluge, it could be similar sorts of giant watery disasters that we see figuring in a wide number of different cultures around the world.

Alternatives:

might be
may be
possibly is
is potentially
is likely

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate obligation, expectation, or likelihood.

"should be "

Use "should be" when you want to express that something is the right or expected thing to do, or when you want to indicate likelihood or probability.

Examples:

You should be studying for your exam.
The meeting should be starting soon.
The report should be ready by Friday.
He should be at work by now.
The keys should be on the table.

Show examples from the web [+]

Our town should be less dog-friendly.
Tom should be home any minute.
All commercially non-sensitive information should be publicly available.
The business archives should be around here somewhere.
The English version should be somewhere.
Your list of options should be comprehensive.
Phase three should be a hoot.
So this should be the pelvis.
I think women should be acknowledged for their brain.
This back street should be completely... empty.
Service stairs should be around the next corridor.
The heart rate should be about 100.
Reading should be accurate within 2 meters.
This old barn should be splinters.
The new team should be arriving.
His cell should be ready by now.
Rooms should be spare for officers.
Kindergarten is a place where learning should be fun.
Anything you discuss should be part of my investigation.
So if anyone should be furious... lam.

Alternatives:

ought to be
must be
is expected to be
is likely to be
is supposed to be

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could be vs should be

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