he may fail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he may fail" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express the possibility or uncertainty of someone's failure in a given situation. Example: "Despite his hard work and dedication, he may fail to meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Despite all the political turmoil this week, the stockmarket rose by 5.3% between mid-day Monday (just before the upper house voted) and Thursday afternoon closing at a four-year high.The danger for Mr Koizumi is that by stressing one issue Japan Post, which he has yet to explain clearly—he may fail to connect with many reformist voters.

The Economist

There are ample indications that he may fail.

The Guardian

If it is too generous, he may fail to negotiate hard with potential buyers.

The Economist

He may fail in this particular section, but he makes progress later on.

The New Yorker

In foreign policy, he will think interestingly about the interconnectedness of migration and war; but he may fail to clarify America's muddled thinking on military interventions.

The Economist

Left without the 'guiding hand of counsel,' Powell v. State of Alabama, supra, 287 U.S. at page 69, 53 S.Ct. at page 64, he may fail properly to introduce, or to introduce at all, what may be a perfect defense.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Or they may fail.

The Economist

Still, the description he uses may fail to refer to the person to whom John referred when he uttered 'he'he

SEP

But officials close to the president stress that Mr Chirac, whose political instincts rarely fail him, will "never in a million years" call a referendum if he thinks it may fail.

The Guardian

He added: "It may fail, but it is in the collective interest of the United States and the international community to give the people and authorities of Greece time to implement at least the first phase of their program".

The New York Times

The clone will start to reproduce at 24 months and his offspring will not enter the bullring until they are 3 or 4. Mr. Del Río recognizes his project may fail, but he says he has a penchant for experimentation.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he may fail" to express uncertainty about someone's success, particularly when outlining potential outcomes or evaluating risks in a neutral tone.

Common error

Avoid using "he may fail" when a stronger expression of certainty is more appropriate. If the evidence overwhelmingly suggests failure, consider phrases like "he will likely fail" or "he is doomed to fail" for greater impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he may fail" functions as a modal phrase expressing possibility. 'May' indicates a chance or likelihood that 'he' will not succeed. Ludwig AI indicates this construction is valid and present in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he may fail" is a grammatically sound expression indicating a possibility of failure. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not overly common, it finds its place across various contexts, especially in news, media, science, and academic writing. Alternatives such as "he might fail" or "he could fail" offer similar shades of meaning. When using the phrase, be mindful of the context and ensure it accurately reflects the level of uncertainty you wish to convey, avoiding overstatements about the likelihood of failure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he might fail

Uses 'might' instead of 'may', suggesting a slightly lower probability of failure.

he could fail

Replaces 'may' with 'could', indicating a possibility, but sometimes implying a condition or potential.

he risks failing

Highlights the presence of risk, emphasizing the potential negative consequences of failure.

he is likely to fail

Indicates a higher probability of failure compared to 'may', suggesting it's more probable than not.

failure is a possibility for him

Rephrases the idea, focusing on failure as a potential outcome rather than an action.

he stands a chance of failing

Implies that there is both a possibility of success and failure, with a focus on the chance aspect.

it's possible he will fail

Shifts the focus to the possibility itself, rather than directly stating his potential failure.

he is in danger of failing

Highlights the perilous situation, suggesting the circumstances are working against him.

there's a risk he'll fail

Emphasizes the risk involved and uses a contraction for a more informal tone.

success isn't assured for him

Expresses the idea by negating success, indirectly implying the potential for failure.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "he may fail" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "it is possible that he will not succeed" or "his success is not assured".

What's the difference between "he may fail" and "he will fail"?

"He may fail" indicates a possibility or uncertainty about the outcome, while "he will fail" expresses a strong certainty or prediction of failure.

Is "he may fail" appropriate for academic writing?

Yes, "he may fail" is appropriate for academic writing when expressing a potential outcome or uncertainty. It's a neutral and grammatically correct phrase.

What are some less direct ways to say "he may fail"?

Alternatives like "he faces the possibility of failure", "his success is uncertain", or "he might not succeed" can be used to express the same idea with varying degrees of directness.