Should and ought to mean the same thing: they give advice or say what the right thing to do is. Should is far more common and works everywhere. In statements, ought to sounds slightly weightier, but in questions and negatives it sounds bookish and old-fashioned: instead of Ought I to call her?, people say Should I call her?
should or ought to — can you pick the right one?
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should + verb; ought to + verb; Should I/we + verb?; shouldn't + verb
- You should back up your files before you update the laptop.
- We ought to leave now if we want to catch the last train.
- Should I bring anything to the party on Saturday?
What changed
First versionYou should to see a doctor about that cough.
RevisionYou should see a doctor about that cough.
After should, the verb follows directly, with no to, just as after can and must. The extra to slips in from ought to and have to, which can't do without it. The correction simply removes it.
With ought to, the mistake goes the other way: to is required, so You ought see a doctor sounds wrong. Both words can also say what will probably happen: The parcel should arrive tomorrow, meaning it's expected to arrive tomorrow.
Your turn
___ I wear a suit to the interview, or is smart casual fine?
Show the answer
Should — In a question, should sounds natural, and the verb after it has no to: Should I wear… Ought would need to (Ought I to wear…), and even then the question sounds old-fashioned.
Give advice to a friend who's going to their first job interview. Name one thing worth doing the day before and explain why.
You should read the company's website the night before, so you can ask them a smart question.
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