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should know better vs should have known better

Both "should know better" and "should have known better" are correct, but these phrases are used in different contexts. "Should know better" is used to express a general expectation of someone's behavior based on their experience or knowledge. On the other hand, "should have known better" is used to indicate a past mistake or error in judgment.
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Explained by Jennifer
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: December 05, 2024 • 10200 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a general expectation of someone's behavior based on their experience or knowledge.

"should know better"

This phrase is used to indicate that someone is expected to act or behave in a more appropriate or knowledgeable way due to their experience or understanding of a situation.

Examples:

  • After all those years of practice, he should know better than to make such a basic mistake.
  • She's been warned about the dangers of smoking; she should know better than to start.
  • As a parent, you should know better than to leave your child unattended near the pool.
  • Feb 18, 2014 ... Comeback Kid "Should Know Better" is from the album, Die Knowing, available now. iTunes: http://bit.ly/1iX2Kq5 Amazon: ...
  • 5 days ago ... You really should know better · Comments Section · Join our sister site on lemmy.world! · Community Info Section · More posts you may like.
  • Jun 26, 2013 ... ... Should Know Better (Behind The Scenes). © 2013 Interscope. ... Robyn - U Should Know Better ft. Snoop Dogg. 110K views · 11 years ago ...more ...
  • Mar 13, 2019 ... Why did Saruman the wise turn evil? That wizard should know better! · Comments Section · Community Info Section · More posts you may like.
  • Jun 22, 2013 ... ... and Sound: Jonas Wessman. U Should Know Better (Behind The Scenes) Robyn feat. Snoop Dogg. 101K views · 11 years ago ...more. Robyn. 362K.
  • Feb 24, 2023 ... r/lotrmemes - A wizard should know better! Archived post. New comments cannot be posted and ...
  • Oscar should know better. by Guest Author November 4, 2024 November 5, 2024 ... And you should know better than trying to cash false receipts.
  • Why we should know better about political idolatry. OpinionJames Ellis III | November 17, 2024. i. Ivory relief, Worship of the Golden Calf 14-15th Century ...
  • Listen to Mike C. Nelson's The Trivia Podcast: You Should Know Better! podcast on Apple Podcasts.
  • Jul 25, 2024 ... I should know better by now in my life to say, "I'll never do XX." (In this case, "I can't imagine ever going back in house!

Alternatives:

  • ought to know better
  • expected to know better
  • should be aware of
  • should be more knowledgeable
  • should act more responsibly

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a past mistake or error in judgment.

"should have known better"

This phrase is used to express regret or disappointment about someone's actions in the past, suggesting that they had the knowledge or experience to make a better decision.

Examples:

  • I can't believe I trusted him again; I should have known better.
  • She should have known better than to trust a stranger with her personal information.
  • After the incident, he realized he should have known better than to ignore the warning signs.
  • Mar 11, 2015 ... ... should have known better To see what I could see My black shroud Holding down my feelings A pillar for my enemies I should have wrote a ...
  • 17 hours ago ... Chicago should have known better · Comments Section · Community Info Section · More posts you may like.
  • Aug 20, 2021 ... ... Should have known better than to break my heart Oh, ain't it funny No I never looked better and it's all your fault Oh, sorry honey But it's ...
  • Apr 24, 2021 ... Hello fellow lovers of Sufjan. I had a realization this morning about "Should Have Known Better". This is long so bare with me.
  • Should Have Known Better Lyrics: I should have known better / To see what I could see / My black shroud / Holding down my feelings / A pillar for my enemies ...
  • Apr 2, 2016 ... “Should Have Known Better” is the second track on Carrie & Lowell, an album that Sufjan has stated was written to help him cope with the death of his mother ...
  • "Should Have Known Better" is a song by American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens. It is the second track and second single from ...
  • Apr 29, 2016 ... We should have known better. Not only we would be breaking our agreement with our parents, but making a trip to Miami Trace and back, with a ...
  • Mar 16, 2021 ... I revisited a harmful, yet common practice I had used very early in my career, and for the first time, I realized I should have known better.
  • Sep 7, 2024 ... 4955 likes, 122 comments - lisabilyeu on September 7, 2024: "Honestly, you should have known better #karma".

Alternatives:

  • should have been aware of
  • should have been more knowledgeable
  • should have acted more responsibly
  • should have anticipated
  • should have foreseen

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