ever may

USAGE SUMMARY

"ever may" is not a correct phrase to use in written English.
If you are looking to express a possibility, you would say "may ever," as in "May ever his memory remain with us."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Some brokers, how ever, may want more of a commission.

The New York Times

Ford marks largest first-quarter loss ever, may still avoid bailout.

The New Yorker

Yet before long, the mantel of 'greatest ever' may have to be passed to Rafael Nadal.

Independent

The most powerful jet engine ever may help Boeing beat back European rival Airbus.

MIT Technology Review

The best nonalcoholic drink ever may have been invented by Carlo Cinque.

The New York Times - Magazine

By Avi Zenilman April 23, 2009 Ford marks largest first-quarter loss ever, may still avoid bailout.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

We've come to accept that forever-and-ever may be unrealistic -- just look at divorce rates and the rise of serial monogamy.

Huffington Post

The selection of clinical criteria, how-ever, may have had an influence on the study results and the lack of association reported.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

"Here's something called 'The Fifty Greatest Countdown Shows Ever!'" May 9, 2016.

The New Yorker

Regarding "Sanders Is as Tough to Catch as Ever" (May 22), Barry Sanders's father's comments were very revealing in terms of a possible motive for his son's retirement.

The New York Times - Sports

Why then the entirely inappropriate headline: "The hopeless continent"?PAUL JENKINSBritish Red CrossLondonSIR Your rosy view of the business of J.C. Decaux ("The smartest bus shelters ever", May 13th) would not be shared by many citizens of Sydney.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "may ever" instead of "ever may" to ensure grammatical correctness when expressing possibility. For example, "May ever his memory remain with us" is grammatically sound and conveys a sense of hope or wish.

Common error

Avoid placing adverbs like "ever" before auxiliary verbs like "may". Correct the sentence structure by placing "ever" after "may" or using alternative expressions such as "possibly" or "potentially" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ever may" functions as a modal phrase attempting to express possibility or likelihood. However, its structure deviates from standard English grammar. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is "may ever."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

12%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "ever may" appears in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct form to express a similar sentiment is "may ever", although alternative phrases like "might possibly" or "could potentially" are also viable. Ludwig AI flags "ever may" as not a correct phrase. When writing, it's best to avoid "ever may" and opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and correctness. Using "may ever" or rephrasing the sentence can help avoid grammatical errors and improve overall writing quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

may ever

Inverts the order of words to adhere to correct English grammar for expressing potential.

might possibly

Replaces "ever" with "possibly" to convey a similar degree of uncertainty or chance.

could potentially

Substitutes "may" with "could" and "ever" with "potentially" to suggest a feasible outcome.

might be able to

Replaces "ever may" with a more explicit expression of capability or capacity.

could conceivably

Emphasizes the plausibility of an event occurring, using "conceivably" to add a sense of possibility.

possibly can

Switches "may" to "can" and includes "possibly" to describe a hypothetical or conditional action.

it is possible that

Rephrases the expression to clearly indicate the possibility of something happening.

there is a chance that

Presents a formal acknowledgment of a likelihood or prospect.

it is conceivable that

Replaces "ever may" with a phrase that denotes something that is imaginable or believable.

it is not out of the question that

Employs a double negative to indicate that something is possible, although not certain.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "ever" and "may" together?

The correct order is "may ever", as in "May ever his memory be a blessing". This construction is used to express a wish or hope.

What does "may ever" mean?

The phrase "may ever" expresses a wish that something will always be the case, similar to saying "forever". For example, "May peace ever reign" means that you hope peace will always exist.

What are some alternatives to "ever may"?

While "ever may" is grammatically incorrect, you can use phrases like "might possibly", "could potentially", or rephrase to "it is possible that" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "ever may" and "may ever"?

Yes, "ever may" is not considered grammatically correct, while "may ever" is a valid construction used to express a wish or a hope.