can well be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can well be" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to express the likelihood or possibility of something happening. For example: "It can well be that he will be promoted to manager next month." This sentence means that there is a good chance or probability that he will be promoted. Another example: "The project can well be completed ahead of schedule." This means that it is highly possible or likely that the project will be finished earlier than expected.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

From all this a "Ragtime -like textuRagtime -likee expectexture

The New York Times - Books

With conspicuous consumption the norm, extreme price escalation can well be expected.

The New York Times

However, as writer Fareed Zakaria warned aptly, there can well be illiberal democracies as well liberal ones.

The Guardian - Opinion

If this is the Post, then the sentiments in the right-wing press and the tabloids can well be imagined.

The Guardian - Books

Contrast the plight of Ukraine, today, however, and Michael Fallon's chosen destination this week can well be understood.

Independent

As for the people on the West Coast who followed Juno as avidly as any New Yorker or Bostonian, risk can well be experienced vicariously.

The New Yorker

The same question can well be asked of news ombudsmen – those independent, in-house critics and mediators between the public and the news organisation.

The Guardian

And perhaps that is something we need to admit about failure: It can well be more sumptuous than success.... Somewhere in our collective unconscious we know — even now — that to have failed is to have lived".

The New York Times - Books

"Nobody less narcissistic than Iris can well be imagined," Bayley writes, and observes that, as Alzheimer's closed in, "Iris's own lack of a sense of identity seemed to float her more gently into its world of preoccupied emptiness".

The New Yorker

These models can well be applied.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

The diffraction patterns can well be correlated to titanium diboride.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can well be" when you want to express a strong possibility or likelihood, supported by evidence or reasoning. It adds a degree of confidence to your statement without making an absolute claim.

Common error

Avoid using "can well be" when you need to express absolute certainty. It indicates a strong possibility, but not a guaranteed outcome. Choose stronger verbs like 'will' or 'is' if certainty is required.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can well be" functions as a modal expression indicating a strong possibility or likelihood. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct. It suggests a high probability without stating an absolute certainty, as evidenced by the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "can well be" is a grammatically correct and frequently used modal expression that indicates a strong possibility or likelihood. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, ranging from formal writing to everyday conversation, though more often encountered in written form. It is mostly employed in scientific and news-related sources. When using "can well be", ensure you are expressing a high degree of probability rather than absolute certainty, and consider alternatives like "is likely to be" or "might very well be" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could easily be

Emphasizes the ease or lack of difficulty with which something might occur.

might very well be

Adds a slight degree of emphasis to the possibility.

may quite possibly be

Conveys a higher degree of uncertainty while still suggesting possibility.

is quite likely to be

Shifts the focus to likelihood rather than possibility.

is highly probable

Indicates a strong chance of something occurring.

could plausibly be

Highlights the believability or feasibility of something.

is reasonably expected to be

Implies that there are good reasons to anticipate something.

may conceivably be

Suggests something is within the realm of possibility, though perhaps unlikely.

is not out of the question

Indicates that something is possible, though perhaps not the most likely outcome.

is within the bounds of possibility

States that something is possible but does not emphasize its likelihood.

FAQs

How can I use "can well be" in a sentence?

You can use "can well be" to express a strong possibility. For example, "The delay "can well be" attributed to the recent weather conditions" suggests that the weather is a likely cause.

What's a good alternative to "can well be"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "is likely to be", "might very well be", or "could easily be" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "can be well" grammatically correct instead of "can well be"?

No, the correct phrasing is "can well be". The adverb 'well' modifies the verb 'be' and should be placed between the modal verb 'can' and the verb 'be'.

What is the level of formality of the expression "can well be"?

The expression "can well be" is considered neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it might be more common in written than spoken English.