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Why "should backup" needs a backup plan
Lloyd Cooper 11/10/2024, 02:18English.me team member
What kind of error is it?
Modal verb agreement error
Why do people make this mistake?
The phrase "should backup" is incorrect because "backup" is being used as a verb, which means it should be "back up" instead. "Should" requires a base form of the verb, and "backup" as a single word is a noun or an adjective, not the base verb form.
What is correct?
The correct verb form is "back up" when used after a modal verb like "should". "Should back up" is the proper construction for expressing the action of creating a backup.
Examples of correct usage
- You should back up your files regularly.
- She should back up the data before updating the software.
- They should back up the important documents to a secure location.
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