may be associated

USAGE SUMMARY

"may be associated" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to indicate a possibility or likelihood of a relationship or connection between two things. Some examples of how it can be used include: - High levels of stress may be associated with an increased risk of heart disease. - It is believed that certain genes may be associated with an increased susceptibility to allergies. - The company's decline in profits may be associated with their failure to adapt to changing market trends. In each of these examples, "may be associated" is used to suggest a potential link or correlation, rather than stating a definitive cause-and-effect relationship. It is a more tentative and speculative phrase than saying something is definitely associated or linked.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"So those may be associated".

Independent

The sliding phase may be associated with lodging.

Nature

Changes in AAAs may be associated with the gut microbiome.

Nature

Some research tasks may be associated with this project.

University of California, Berkeley

Such a shift may be associated with changes in content.

Harvard University

Dronedarone may be associated with interstitial lung disease.

Stanford University

This may be associated with infertility and implantation failure.

Yale University

In addition, depression may be associated with chronic medical illnesses.

Columbia University

Increasing financial burden may be associated with physician dissatisfaction.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Endometrial polyps may be associated with increased miscarriage rates.

Reproductive BioMedicine Online

Moreover, repeated OCS bursts may be associated with adverse effects.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may be associated" to indicate a possible relationship, not a definitive cause-and-effect. This acknowledges uncertainty and invites further investigation.

Common error

Avoid using "may be associated" when stronger evidence supports a direct causal link. Choose more definitive language if causation is established.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be associated" functions as a modal verb phrase used to express a possibility or potential connection between two elements. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is frequently utilized across diverse sources to indicate a relationship that is not definitively proven but rather suggested.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

Academia

23%

News & Media

22%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may be associated" is a grammatically sound phrase that effectively conveys a potential relationship without asserting a definitive link. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage across various fields, particularly in science, academia, and news media. When writing, using similar terms like "could be linked" or "might be related" can provide subtle variations in meaning. Remember to use "may be associated" when a correlation is plausible but causation is not firmly established. Overstating the relationship could mislead your audience. Use this phrase to promote analysis and further investigation into relationships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be linked

Emphasizes a potential connection, suggesting a weaker association than a direct link.

might be related

Indicates a possibility of a relationship or connection, similar in strength to "may be associated".

can be connected

Suggests a possible, but not definite, connection between two things.

potentially correlated

Highlights a statistical correlation without implying causation.

possibly connected

Implies a lower probability of connection compared to "may be associated".

conceivably linked

Suggests a more theoretical or hypothetical connection.

is possibly tied to

Highlights that two things are bound in some way, implying causality.

can be attributed to

Suggests a cause-and-effect relationship, where something can be seen as the cause of something else.

shares a relationship with

Highlights the mutual relationship between two or more entities, emphasizing the correlation between them.

exhibits a connection to

Indicates that something shows a link or relationship to something else, focusing on visible or demonstrable evidence.

FAQs

How do I use "may be associated" in a sentence?

Use "may be associated" to suggest a potential link or correlation between two things, without stating a definite cause-and-effect relationship. For example, "High levels of stress "may be associated" with an increased risk of heart disease".

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

You can use alternatives like "could be linked", "might be related", or "potentially correlated" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "may be associated" or "is associated"?

"May be associated" indicates a possibility or likelihood, while "is associated" suggests a more definite connection. The choice depends on the strength of the evidence.

What's the difference between "may be associated" and "is correlated with"?

"May be associated" implies a possible relationship, while "is correlated with" indicates a statistical correlation. Correlation doesn't always equal causation, and "may be associated" acknowledges this uncertainty.