may affect their

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may affect their" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing potential impacts or influences on a group or individual. Example: "The new policy changes may affect their job security and overall morale."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That may affect their play.

The Guardian - Sport

Today's event may affect their support".

The Guardian

This may affect their personal views about health care.

The Washington Post

Other factors that may affect their attitude were also studied.

Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology

This may be transitional or may affect their health or ability to make and sustain relationships.

The Guardian

Prepaid tuition programs risk the pre-emption of decisions that may affect their children's entire lives.

The New York Times

Captive animals are living in humans' right-handed world, after all, which may affect their handedness.

The New York Times

Several R&D consortia obtain public financial support, which may affect their governance structure and performance.

Research Policy

A study underway at the University of Virginia suggests that LED lights may affect their behavior.

The Washington Post

The allocation system of donor organs for transplantation may affect their scarcity.

Stanford University

How can communities have access to information on practices that may affect their lives?

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing potential consequences, use "may affect their" to introduce possibilities without asserting certainty. This is especially useful in reports, analyses, or predictions where the outcome is not yet known.

Common error

Avoid using "will affect their" unless you have definitive proof. Using "may affect their" introduces a necessary degree of uncertainty and avoids making unsubstantiated claims.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may affect their" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a potential influence or impact. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's used to express a possibility or likelihood of something influencing a group or individual.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

34%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may affect their" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate a potential impact or influence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely found across various contexts, including science, news, and academic writing. It is best used to introduce possibilities without asserting certainty, and alternatives such as ""might influence their"" or ""could impact their"" can be used to vary the language. When writing, be mindful not to overstate certainty by using "will affect their" unless there is definitive proof.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might affect their

Interchangeable use of "might" for "may", both expressing possibility.

might influence their

Uses "might" instead of "may", indicating a slightly lower probability, and "influence" instead of "affect", focusing on persuasive power.

could impact their

Substitutes "may" with "could", suggesting possibility, and "affect" with "impact", implying a stronger or more direct influence.

may influence their

Replaces "affect" with "influence", focusing on the power to change or sway.

could alter their

Uses "could" instead of "may" to indicate possibility, and "alter" instead of "affect" to imply a change in form or character.

may shape their

Replaces "affect" with "shape", indicating a more formative or guiding influence.

may change their

Substitutes "affect" with "change", focusing on the result of the influence.

may determine their

Swaps "affect" with "determine", suggesting a decisive influence.

may have a bearing on their

Uses a more formal expression with "have a bearing on", indicating relevance or influence.

may play a role in their

Emphasizes the contributing aspect of the phrase, indicating participation or involvement in something.

FAQs

How can I use "may affect their" in a sentence?

Use "may affect their" to indicate a potential influence or impact. For instance, "The new policy "may affect their" work-life balance."

What are some alternatives to "may affect their"?

Alternatives include "might influence their", "could impact their", or "may influence their" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "may affect their" or "will affect their"?

Use "may affect their" when the outcome is uncertain. Use "will affect their" only when the impact is definite and confirmed.

What's the difference between "may affect their" and "might affect their"?

The terms "may" and "might" are often interchangeable in this context. Both indicate a possibility, with "might" sometimes suggesting a slightly lower probability.