My question: Are “Should” and “Ought” perfect synonyms, or are there situations where one is preferred?
Background: I had a professor in college who used “should” to mean “ought to want to.” I like this subtle distinction, but I haven’t found any source that confirms this usage.
Here are the definitions from http://www.m-w.com:
[ul] Ought– used to express obligation <ought to pay our debts>, advisability <ought to take care of yourself>, natural expectation <ought to be here by now>, or logical consequence <the result ought to be infinity>
Should–
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[li]-- used in auxiliary function to express condition <if he should leave his father, his father would die – Gen 44:22 (Revised Standard Version)>[/li][li]-- used in auxiliary function to express obligation, propriety, or expediency <'tis commanded I should do so – Shakespeare> <this is as it should be – H. L. Savage> <you should brush your teeth after each meal>[/li][li]-- used in auxiliary function to express futurity from a point of view in the past <realized that she should have to do most of her farm work before sunrise – Ellen Glasgow>[/li][li]-- used in auxiliary function to express what is probable or expected <with an early start, they should be here by noon>[/li][li]-- used in auxiliary function to express a request in a polite manner or to soften direct statement <I should suggest that a guide… is the first essential – L. D. Reddick>[/li][/list=1]
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IAMAG (grammarian), but I think they’re very close in everyday usage. However, I tend to use “ought” when it’s a moral issue, as in “You really ought to be more polite to others,” and I use “should” in more practical matters, as in “You should use a lighter oil in the winter.” To me, “ought” sounds more serious, while “should” is more of a suggestion.
Of course, someone is bound to contradict me. I should (or is that ought to?) have kept my mouth shut.
Call me a lug, but they’re practically synonymous in my vocabulary. The only distinction I draw between them is a usage (if it should rain tomorrow…) that sounds mighty pretentious for a Yank like me.
There’s also the matter that “ought” takes an infinitive: “I ought to go to the grocery store this weekend.”, vs. “I should go to the grocery store this weekend.”. One might try to argue that “ought to” is a synonym of “should”, but of course, that’s a sloppy construction, with which one can only get away in English.
CHronos, I think that both of those take the subjunctive. Should does not not take the standard conjugation. “I should go” “he should go.” Not “he should goes”
MAybe “ought to” is not ought plus infinitive. I am not sure, but I do know that it takes the infinitive in romance languages. Someone will have to clarify.
I would say they’re very close to being synonyms, but that should is slightly more insistant. I ought to do something, but it’s almost optional. I should do it, and I’d certainly be wrong not to.
If there is a distinction other than whether or not to keep the “to” of the infinitive I don’t see it in either the definitions nor common usage… Except that “should,” apparently, is more flexible than “ought” in standard english.
“Should” definitely takes the infinitive, just without the “to,” and isn’t necessarily subjunctive. I think those definitions say it all, really. The distinction is one of construction.
My “Writers INC” book from High School has a handy table of common word mix-ups, and doesn’t lits any “should/ought” dichotomy.
“Should” and “ought” can be used synonymously, but they are also different. Depends upon context. Best way to appreciate this: consider examples.
You can say: “If it should rain tomorrow…” You can’t (without straining meaning) say “If it ought to rain tomorrow…” Thus, “should” may express future possibility. “Ought” cannot do so.
“I ought to pay my bills” means I have an obligation to do so. “I should pay my bills” implies much the same thing, but also implies that I am thinking about it somewhat. It leaves the paying of the bills up to me.
“Should” has a future-tense connotation as well as a subjunctive one. “If I should die, I would want my wife to inherit my property.” “If I ought to die [because I am such a bad person], my wife etc…” has a different meaning.
Futurity and subjunctivity in English is a tricky matter. EB White [Elements of Style] provides a good example:
“No one shall save me. I will drown”
“No one will save me. I shall drown.”
I may have misquoted, but the gist is correct. One is the statement of a determined suicide. The other is that of a man in distress who wants to be saved.
