may arguably be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may arguably be" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when presenting a point of view or opinion that is open to debate or interpretation. Example: "The new policy may arguably be beneficial for employee morale, but some employees have expressed concerns about its implementation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Jobs may arguably be lost or the creation of new jobs slowed.

The New York Times

The Communist Party of China may arguably be one of the world's most meritocratic institutions.

The New York Times

It may arguably be good in Taro's case, but in today's activist environment, it could easily be used by hedge funds and institutional investors for less-useful purposes.

The New York Times

Although arbitrators may arguably be in a better position than national courts to deal with complex economic issues, they may not be so adept at handling public policy issues.

Columbia University

Zhang Weiwei, a political scientist and best-selling author, suggested in these pages that "the Communist Party of China may arguably be one of the world's most meritocratic institutions" ("Meritocracy versus democracy," Nov. 10).

The New York Times

Trucking those nests to Florida may arguably be less a crucial intervention to sustain the overall health of the species than a straight-up rescue mission to keep those individual little Gulf Coast hatchlings from, as one person involved in the planning put it to me, "swimming to their deaths".

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

The claimed injury thus runs (in a sense) with the Member's seat, a seat which the Member holds (it may quite arguably be said) as trustee for his constituents, not as a prerogative of personal power.

Cornell University

He may at least arguably be right to maintain one at the Times and Sunday Times.

The Guardian

23 Subtherapeutic dependence has also emerged in other OTC medicine research, 18 but such use may arguably also be related to a more perceived loss of control than to therapeutic dependency.

BMJ Open

Whereas the dog may arguably have been the first animal to be domesticated [3], [4 – commonly used for hunting, guard and military actions], horses attained a prominent role as animals of transport and warfare, changing societies on a continent-wide scale.

Plosone

For example, hospitality and "guest relations" programs to raise the scores on surveys given to Medicare beneficiaries no doubt improved the patient experience, but may have only arguably been related to any aspect of the "quality" of the medical care.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may arguably be" when you want to introduce a statement that is open to discussion or not definitively proven. It adds a layer of caution and invites the reader to consider alternative perspectives.

Common error

Avoid stacking too many hedging devices together. Overusing phrases like "may arguably be" can make your writing sound uncertain and undermine the strength of your argument. Strive for a balance between caution and confidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may arguably be" functions as an epistemic modal, indicating a degree of uncertainty or tentativeness. According to Ludwig, it's a grammatically correct way to introduce a statement that's open to debate, as shown in various examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may arguably be" is a modal phrase used to express uncertainty and open a statement to debate. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. While it's a useful tool for hedging claims, it's important to avoid overuse and maintain a balance between caution and confidence in writing. Alternatives such as "could plausibly be" or "might conceivably be" offer subtle shifts in emphasis. Its broad applicability makes it a versatile addition to one's vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could plausibly be

Replaces "may" with "could", suggesting a slightly lower degree of certainty, and "arguably" with "plausibly", emphasizing the reasonableness of the argument.

might conceivably be

Substitutes "may" with "might", indicating a slightly weaker possibility, and "arguably" with "conceivably", highlighting the capacity to imagine or believe something.

could reasonably be

Suggests that there are valid reasons or evidence to consider something as true, shifting emphasis to the rationale.

can debatably be

Replaces "may" with "can", suggesting a theoretical possibility, and "arguably" with "debatably", explicitly focusing on the contestable nature of the point.

might be thought to be

Indirectly presents a view, suggesting it is held by some, and focusing less on the speaker's argument.

one could contend is

Highlights the speaker’s intention to introduce a new argument, framing the upcoming statement as their belief.

is potentially

Simplifies the phrase to focus on the potential aspect, removing the explicit element of argumentation.

is subject to debate

Highlights that the matter is contentious or unresolved, removing the modal verb.

is possibly

Expresses a degree of uncertainty without the argumentative aspect.

is open to interpretation

Focuses on the ambiguity of the matter, suggesting that multiple viewpoints are valid.

FAQs

How can I use "may arguably be" in a sentence?

The phrase "may arguably be" is used to introduce a claim that is open to debate or lacks definitive proof. For example, "The new economic policy "may arguably be" more beneficial to large corporations than small businesses."

What are some alternatives to "may arguably be"?

You can use alternatives such as "could plausibly be", "might conceivably be", or "can debatably be" to express similar ideas with slight variations in emphasis.

Is "may arguably be" too formal for casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, "may arguably be" leans towards formal writing. In casual conversation, simpler phrases like "might be" or "could be" are often more appropriate.

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

"May arguably be" introduces a higher degree of uncertainty and subjectivity compared to "is arguably". The inclusion of "may" emphasizes the possibility that the statement is debatable, whereas "is arguably" presents the statement as a contention that is already somewhat established or accepted by some.