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Ghost Writer Posted 20 years ago
Linguistics Studies
"Ought to" vs. "Should."
I had an English teacher a long time ago who liked using ought to instead of should.
Do you think there is a large difference between these two words?
Is ought to more polite than should?
Is should more commanding?
What is your interpretation of the difference between these two words?
Do you think there is a large difference between these two words?
Is ought to more polite than should?
Is should more commanding?
What is your interpretation of the difference between these two words?
Top answer
If we take the basis meaning of ought and should (just to mention "ought" is a modal verb that does not have the same scope of meanings as "should") ought indicates what somebody should do should gives a suggestion on what is the right thing for somebody to do You ought to tell her how you feel. You can't avoid telling her how you fell You should tell her how you feel. It is better or the best to tell her how you fell I wouldn't say that it is a formal-informal dilemma here.
- If we take the basis meaning of ought and should (just to mention "ought" is a modal verb that does not have the same scope of meanings as "should") ought indicates what somebody should do should gives a suggestion on what is the right thing for somebody to do You ought to tell her how you feel.
- You can't avoid telling her how you fell You should tell her how you feel.
- It is better or the best to tell her how you fell I wouldn't say that it is a formal-informal dilemma here.
- By telling "ought to" you suggest someone what is one of the last options one has or something that one can't easily avoid, for example, any longer.
- By telling "should" you suggest someone that something is good to be done or something that after all is meaningful.
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43 Answers
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If we take the basis meaning of ought and should (just to mention "ought" is a modal verb that does not have the same scope of meanings as "should")
ought
indicates what somebody should do
should
gives a suggestion on what is the right thing for somebody to do
You ought to tell her how you feel.
You can't avoid telling her how you fell
ought
indicates what somebody should do
should
gives a suggestion on what is the right thing for somebody to do
You ought to tell her how you feel.
You can't avoid telling her how you fell
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AperisicIf we take the basis meaning of ought and should (just to mention "ought" is a modal verb that does not have the same scope of meanings as "should")This confuses me somewhat. Are you saying that 'ought' and 'should' are the same?
ought
indicates what somebody should do
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Palmer (The English Verb) distinguishes three uses of should.
1. to lay a tentative obligation
You should come to the party tomorrow.
2. to express a probability
They should be at their destination by now.
3. 'evaluative' should
It's strange that he should say such a thing.
He makes the foll
1. to lay a tentative obligation
You should come to the party tomorrow.
2. to express a probability
They should be at their destination by now.
3. 'evaluative' should
It's strange that he should say such a thing.
He makes the foll
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ought
indicates what somebody should do
This confuses me somewhat. Are you saying that 'ought' and 'should' are the same?
The answer is in word "indicates".
"Ought to" has the same intention as "should", that is to suggest something, but "ought to" says that you think that a person should pay more attention to your suggestion to giv
indicates what somebody should do
This confuses me somewhat. Are you saying that 'ought' and 'should' are the same?
The answer is in word "indicates".
"Ought to" has the same intention as "should", that is to suggest something, but "ought to" says that you think that a person should pay more attention to your suggestion to giv
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The difference between "ought to" and "should", when they mean "giving a suggestion", is better understood when you examine expressions and examples.
For example if I like a cake very much and I want to suggest someone to try it I would say: "You ought to try this cake." In this case if we use "You should try this cake", it says not much about how strong I liked it.
If someone is
For example if I like a cake very much and I want to suggest someone to try it I would say: "You ought to try this cake." In this case if we use "You should try this cake", it says not much about how strong I liked it.
If someone is
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I'm glad to see your long response and thoughts on this. My interpretation of "ought to" has been equated with "might want to." Were I to go into a homeless shelter, one may question if "ought to" or "should" is more polite than the other. Of course, a person would be daring to use either one. However, ought to might be more sincere since its meaning can change to the context of a situation. In ot
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Ghost WriterExcellent point. Suppose you and I discuss a problem. We find it very difficu(In this case "That ought to be easy." is almost equal to "That should've been easy") - AperisiThe only problem I have with that line is this: "That ought to have been easy."
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While I might be a few months late in posting, I did happen to read something today that made the word "ought" much clearer in meaning.
"Ought" was at one point
"Ought" was at one point
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0 In North American English, "ought" is very rarely used. In fact, I myself have never used it. I use "should", or construct the sentence differently to avoid using "ought". 0-
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