could be of value

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could be of value" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when suggesting that something may have worth or usefulness in a particular context. Example: "This research could be of value to our ongoing project, as it provides new insights into the topic."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The police thought they could be of value to terrorists.

The Guardian

This approach could be of value for tissue engineering applications.

Journal of Controlled Release

May says the police thought Miranda had information that could be of value to terrorists.

The Guardian

Potent inhibitors of this enzyme could be of value as treatment of prostate cancer.

Steroids

I also thought there was a deeper spiritual dimension to it that could be of value to a current audience".

The New York Times

Amartya Sen's "The Idea of Justice" could be of value to anyone in a position of great power and responsibility.

The New York Times - Books

"I thought that once again I could be of value and have something that would be worth saying and give people a good time," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

It was Cheney who, recognising its impotence against a heavily armed nuclear power, launched the argument that a smaller version could be of value against lesser states.

The Guardian

Joe Gaylord, a Republican consultant and former adviser to Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, said: "It could be of value to opposition researchers.

The New York Times

She believes that it is right for the police to use schedule 7 against someone if they believe they have information that could be of value to terrorists.

The Guardian

Hydrothermal treatment of carbon nanotubes with clay and an aliphatic acid gave side alkylated carbon nanotubes-clay composites, which could be of value in various technological applications.

Carbon

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could be of value" when suggesting a potential benefit or positive impact, particularly in contexts where the value isn't yet fully realized or proven. It's ideal for proposals, suggestions, or speculative discussions.

Common error

Avoid using "could be of value" when the benefit is already well-established. Opt for stronger phrasing like "is valuable" or "offers significant advantages" to reflect the proven worth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be of value" functions as a modal expression suggesting potential benefit or worth. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness. Examples show it qualifying various nouns and ideas, indicating a conditional assessment of their merit.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could be of value" is a versatile phrase used to suggest potential benefit or worth, validated by Ludwig AI. Appearing frequently across diverse sources like science, news and business, it suits neutral to professional contexts. It's ideal for expressing conditional assessments. When using the phrase, consider whether the value is potential or already established; if it's the latter, stronger phrasing is appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could prove useful

Replaces 'of value' with 'useful', highlighting the practical application of something.

could be advantageous

Simplifies the structure while keeping the core meaning of providing an advantage.

might prove beneficial

Replaces 'could be' with 'might prove', emphasizing the potential for a positive outcome.

could potentially help

Adds 'potentially help' to specify how something might be of value, indicating assistance.

may be advantageous

Substitutes 'could be' with 'may be', focusing on the aspect of providing an advantage.

may have utility

Uses 'may have' instead of 'could be', and 'utility' instead of 'value', focusing on usefulness.

might be worthwhile

Replaces the entire phrase with 'worthwhile', focusing on the worthiness or merit of something.

might offer benefits

Changes the structure to emphasize the benefits that something could provide.

may hold promise

Uses 'hold promise' to suggest potential future value or success.

could serve a purpose

Focuses on the function or role something could fulfill, rather than its inherent value.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "could be of value" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "may prove beneficial", "might be advantageous", or "may have utility". These options convey a similar meaning with a slightly more elevated vocabulary.

What's a simpler way to say "could be of value"?

You can use simpler alternatives like "could be useful", "might help", or "may be good" to express the same idea in a more straightforward manner.

Is it always appropriate to use "could be of value"?

While generally appropriate, "could be of value" is best used when there's uncertainty or potential yet to be realized. If the value is already proven, stronger phrases like "is valuable" or "offers benefits" are more fitting.

What's the difference between "could be of value" and "is of value"?

"Could be of value" suggests a possibility or potential, implying that the value isn't yet fully established. In contrast, "is of value" indicates a current and confirmed state of being valuable.