may be affected

USAGE SUMMARY

"may be affected" is correct and usable in written English.
You use it when you want to express the possibility that something will be impacted by an event or situation. Example: Rising sea levels could mean that coastal cities may be affected.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At worst, his eardrum may be affected.

The Guardian - Sport

Hearing in that ear may be affected.

Harvard University

Other kinds of cases may be affected as well.

The New York Times

Checketts's time frame may be affected by Wayne Gretzky's plans.

The New York Times - Sports

Cleveland's interest may be affected by a proposed trade.

The New York Times - Sports

"Fox News may be affected short term," Mr. Tyndall said.

The New York Times - Arts

The marketing staff, for example, may be affected, he said.

The New York Times

All the muscles or only a few may be affected.

Britannica

About 10,000 people may be affected by the storm.

The Washington Post

Each element may be affected differently as the cycle progresses.

Britannica

Alternatively, chromatin accessibility at the YUC4 promoter may be affected.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "may be affected", clearly state the factor causing the potential impact to provide context for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "may be affected" without specifying what is causing the potential impact. For example, instead of saying "the results may be affected", specify "the results "may be affected by the new policy"".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be affected" functions as a passive construction indicating a potential impact or influence on a subject. Ludwig examples show its use across various domains, affirming its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

28%

News & Media

26%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may be affected" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that indicates a potential influence or impact. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for expressing possibilities across various contexts, from scientific studies to news reports. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the cause of the potential impact. While versatile, alternatives such as "could be impacted" or "might be influenced" can add nuance. Remember, "may be affected" conveys uncertainty, distinguishing it from stronger assertions like "will be affected".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be impacted

Replaces "may be" with "could be", suggesting a slightly lower probability of impact.

might be influenced

Substitutes "affected" with "influenced", implying a more indirect impact.

could experience changes

Uses "experience changes" instead of "be affected", focusing on the alteration itself.

might undergo alterations

Replaces "affected" with "undergo alterations", which is more formal and emphasizes the process of change.

could be subject to

Changes "affected" to "subject to", indicating a passive reception of an external force.

may feel the effects of

This alternative specifically highlights the sensation or consequence of something impacting another.

might suffer consequences

This phrase suggests a negative outcome as a result of the impact.

could be vulnerable to

Focuses on the susceptibility of something to being affected.

may be susceptible to

Similar to 'could be vulnerable to', this indicates a predisposition to being impacted.

might be at risk of

Highlights the potential danger or negative outcome associated with the impact.

FAQs

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

The phrase "may be affected" is used to express the possibility that something could be influenced or changed by something else. For instance, "The supply chain "may be affected by the pandemic"".

What are some alternatives to "may be affected"?

You can use alternatives like "could be impacted", "might be influenced", or "could experience changes" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "may be affected" or "may be effected"?

"May be affected" and "may be effected" have different meanings. "Affected" means influenced or changed, while "effected" means brought about or caused. Therefore, use "may be affected" when discussing influence and "may be effected" when discussing causation.

What does "may be affected" imply about the certainty of the impact?

The phrase "may be affected" suggests a possibility, but not a certainty. It indicates that there is a chance something will be influenced, but it is not guaranteed. For a stronger statement, you might use "will be affected".