Which one is correct?
"it should be" or "it should only be"?

Question

Which one is correct?
"it should be" or "it should only be"?

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This phrase is used to express what is considered appropriate, necessary, or desirable in a given situation.

Examples:

It should be done by tomorrow.
It should be noted that the deadline has been extended.

Alternatives:

it ought to be
it is expected to be

This phrase is used to stress that there is no other option or possibility besides the one mentioned.

Examples:

In this case, it should only be red, not any other color.
For security reasons, it should only be accessed by authorized personnel.

Alternatives:

it must only be
it can only be

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'It should only be' is used when emphasizing that something should exclusively be a certain way, while 'it should be' is a more general statement indicating what is expected or required.

Last Updated: March 15, 2024