ought to
Would be wise
Ought to expresses obligation, duty, or strong recommendation: You ought to apologize.
It also indicates probability or expectation: The package ought to arrive tomorrow.
Unlike must or should, ought to carries a softer moral weight—more advice than command.
The negative ought not to sounds formal; shouldn't dominates casual speech.
Expresses obligation or expectation
- mustObligatory requirement
- dutyRequired moral task
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- requirementMandatory condition to fulfill
necessity · commitment · mandate · imperative · accountability · expected · bound · obliged
should
Expresses obligation or expectation
- mustObligatory requirement
- dutyRequired moral task
- responsibilityState of being answerable
requirement · necessity · commitment · mandate · imperative · accountability · expected · bound · obliged · compelled
should
Expresses obligation or expectation
- probablyAlmost certainly true
- likelyHaving good odds
- presumablyTaken as likely true
expected · anticipated · predicted · assumed · supposed · bound to · due to · forecast · projected · reckoned