could be making

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could be making" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a possibility or potential action that someone might be engaged in at the moment. Example: "If he had more time, he could be making significant progress on his project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The governor could be making it easier.

The New York Times

We could be making love before noon.

The New Yorker

Shampoo Could be making you fat?!

The New York Times

I could be making light bulbs.

The Washington Post

He could be making a massive difference.

The Guardian

"They could be making pesticides or they could be making something more nefarious than pesticides".

The New York Times

One YouTuber could be making $1 per click and another one could be making 2 cents.

The Guardian

Sheen could be making more money than he is.

The Guardian

He could be making changes for families across the country.

The Guardian

And making the discoveries they could be making.

The Guardian

They could be making us an offer we can't refuse.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could be making" to express a tentative or hypothetical action, indicating a possibility rather than a certainty. It's useful when speculating about potential outcomes or actions.

Common error

Avoid using "could be making" when a definite statement is required. Using it in place of a certain fact can create ambiguity and weaken your message. Ensure your phrasing matches the certainty of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be making" functions as a modal verb phrase, expressing possibility or potential. Ludwig examples show it's often used to speculate about outcomes or actions in progress.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could be making" is a versatile phrase used to express possibility or potential in ongoing actions. As Ludwig AI shows, it's widely found in News & Media and Academic sources, indicating its broad applicability. Remember to use it when expressing uncertainty or speculation, and avoid substituting it for definite statements. It is important to know that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be creating

Replaces "could" with "might", indicating a slightly lower degree of certainty.

may be producing

Substitutes "could" with "may", suggesting possibility, and "making" with "producing", shifting the focus slightly.

is potentially generating

Uses "potentially generating" instead of "making", emphasizing the potential aspect of the action.

has the capacity to make

Replaces the modal verb construction with a phrase highlighting the inherent ability or capacity to perform the action.

is in a position to create

Indicates that someone or something is favorably situated to bring something into existence.

is able to produce

Expresses ability or capability to make something.

can potentially generate

Combines the sense of ability ("can") with the notion of possibility ("potentially") for making something.

would be capable of creating

Emphasizes capability in a hypothetical or conditional context.

is liable to make

Indicates a tendency or probability for making something.

is anticipated to generate

Suggests an expectation or prediction for making something.

FAQs

How to use "could be making" in a sentence?

The phrase "could be making" expresses a possibility or potential action. For example, "If they invest wisely, they "could be making" a significant profit."

What can I say instead of "could be making"?

You can use alternatives like "might be creating", "may be producing", or "is potentially generating" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "could be making" or "could make"?

"Could be making" implies a continuous action in progress, while "could make" suggests a single, completed action. For example, "They "could be making" progress" (continuous) versus "They "could make" a decision" (single action).

What's the difference between "could be making" and "should be making"?

"Could be making" expresses a possibility, while "should be making" expresses an expectation or obligation. "He "could be making" more money if he worked harder" (possibility) versus "He "should be making" more money given his experience" (expectation).