TextRanch

The best way to perfect your writing.

Discover why 1,062,726 users count on TextRanch to get their English corrected!

1. Input your text below.
2. Get it corrected in a few minutes by our editors.
3. Improve your English!

One of our experts will correct your English.

Our experts

should know better vs should have known better

Both "should know better" and "should have known better" are correct, but they 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.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 9918 views

should know better

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

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.
  • Not smart. I should know better.
  • She should know better than to play with guns.
  • Come now, Father, you should know better.
  • You kids should know better. It's not safe being out this late.
  • Mrs Van Lancker should know better.
  • Bright spot like you should know better.
  • Johnny, you should know better.
  • Smart girl like you should know better.
  • He should know better than to interfere in my family affairs.
  • You should know better than I.
  • Even guys like you should know better.
  • I should know better than to hire a diseased person.
  • Early '70s, and you should know better.
  • You should know better than to inspire financially and spiritually bereft people.
  • Annie, you should know better than to horde money.
  • You're right. I should know better.
  • You should know better by now.
  • You should know better than to get in a car with Terry.
  • You should know better, Katya.
  • Frankly Hoggins, you should know better.

Alternatives:

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

should have known better

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

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.
  • We definitely should have known better and we deserve to be punished.
  • The four of us, we should have known better.
  • As a Borgia, you should have known better.
  • I should have known better, 'cause after all this time, I can't even make peace within my own family.
  • With her track record, I should have known better.
  • I should have known better than to try and sneak around on the Devil.
  • I should have known better than to waste my time.
  • I should have known better than to trust a priest.
  • Let me just preface this with a big disclaimer that screams, "I should have known better."
  • And then you go into it anyway... and then, when what you're afraid of happens... you kick yourself, because you should have known better.
  • And I should have known better, 'cause the truth is,
  • I shouldn't have gone outside with him, I should have known better!
  • And you should have known better.
  • Least I should have known better.
  • He should have known better before.
  • I should have known better than to reason with your kind, dhampir hunter.
  • Still, we should have known better.
  • I should have known better than to indulge my curiosity.
  • You should have known better than to cheat.
  • You out of everyone should have known better.

Alternatives:

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

Related Comparisons

Would feel better vs Could feel better didn't know any better vs didn't know better understand better vs understand it better to better understand vs to understand better better understand vs understand better

What Our Customers Are Saying

Our customers love us! We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283,125 votes.
Also check out our 2,100+ reviews on TrustPilot (4.9TextRanch on TrustPilot).

Why choose TextRanch?

Lowest prices
Up to 50% lower than other online editing sites.

Fastest Times
Our team of editors is working for you 24/7.

Qualified Editors
Native English experts for UK or US English.

Top Customer Service
We are here to help. Satisfaction guaranteed!