he may be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he may be" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express possibility or uncertainty regarding someone's state or identity. Example: "He may be the one who left the door open."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He may be succeeding.

The Economist

He may! Be warned!

The New York Times

He may be bluffing.

The Economist

He may be right.

The New York Times

He may be serious.

The New York Times - Arts

And he may be right.

The New York Times

He may be a diabetic.

Independent

Why he may be wrong.

The New York Times

He may be be right.

Independent

But he may be misremembering.

The New Yorker

"But he may be right".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he may be" when you want to express a possibility or uncertainty about someone's state, condition, or identity, without stating it as a definite fact.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "he may be" in your writing. Vary your language by using alternatives like "he might be", "perhaps he is", or "it's possible that he is" to add nuance and avoid sounding repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he may be" functions as a modal verb phrase, expressing possibility or uncertainty. It combines the pronoun "he" with the modal verb "may" and the auxiliary verb "be" to indicate that something is potentially true but not definitively confirmed. Ludwig examples support this function across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he may be" is a versatile and commonly used expression to indicate possibility or uncertainty. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely applicable in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While "he may be" is suitable for many situations, it's important to consider using alternatives like "he might be" or "perhaps he is" to add nuance and avoid repetition in your writing. Pay attention to the register, as it is appropriate for a range of formality levels, but overuse should be avoided in favor of varied phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he could be

Employs a different modal verb to convey a similar sense of possibility.

he might be

Another modal verb alternative, subtly suggesting a slightly lower probability.

perhaps he is

Uses an adverb to express uncertainty directly.

it is possible that he is

Uses a more formal and explicit construction to indicate possibility.

it's conceivable he's

Implies a slightly lower degree of likelihood.

it is likely that he is

Suggests a higher probability than "he may be".

chances are he is

An idiomatic expression indicating a reasonable probability.

presumably he is

Indicates an assumption based on some evidence, but without certainty.

i expect he is

Expresses the speaker's expectation, implying a degree of confidence.

it would not surprise me if he were

A more complex construction that indicates a degree of acceptance of the possibility.

FAQs

How to use "he may be" in a sentence?

Use "he may be" to express a possibility or uncertainty. For example, "He may be the next candidate for the job" indicates that it's possible, but not certain, that he will be the candidate.

What can I say instead of "he may be"?

You can use alternatives like "he might be", "perhaps he is", or "it is possible that he is" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "he may be" or "he might be"?

Both "he may be" and "he might be" are grammatically correct and express possibility. The choice often depends on subtle nuances in the degree of certainty you wish to convey.

What's the difference between "he may be" and "he is"?

"He is" states a fact or certainty, while "he may be" expresses a possibility or uncertainty. For example, "He is the manager" indicates certainty, whereas "He may be the manager" suggests that it's a possibility, but not confirmed.