may be chance

USAGE SUMMARY

"may be chance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express something that may be a possibility, typically when that possibility is unlikely or unexpected. For example, "After all this time, it may be chance that brought us together again."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

It may be chance, he said, but there is another explanation: "Namely, is the organizer of the tournament our friend?" "But that leads to the argument about religion," he said to much laughter.

The New York Times - Science

So long as a child has parents, and so long as they are not seriously brutal, she reckons, one set of parents is just as good as another.If that is so, the really important variable may be chance.

The Economist

In fact, they often differ vastly: in one case in every three, said a study of 1995 figures among European Union countries and not just because emigrants are harder to pin down than immigrants.Even if the figures match, that may be chance.

The Economist

There may be chance of biotransformation of nanomaterials within C. elegans and observed fluorescence effects may be due to high rate of biotransformation of small-sized 10 nm NPs.

Nanoscale Research Letters

It may be chance coincidence that the average temperature of the world since 1900 has risen by about this rate.

Huffington Post

The reason for the maintenance of the three polymerase polypeptides may be chance or it is quite likely that the three PB1, PB2 and PA polypeptides act most efficiently as a set and so there may be pressure to maintain a gene constellation for optimal replication proficiency.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Thus, there may be chances associated with the punctuality of trains, for example, without any presumption that there are any associated laws.

SEP

There may be chances that some of the hyperlinks extracted come out to be relative links; in that case, we replaced those links by their hierarchically known absolute links.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

No matter how opposite you may be, chances are there's common ground.

Huffington Post

Whatever the case may be, chances are that winter's however-many-times-a-week routine will need to be adjusted.

Huffington Post

Whatever the long-term consequences of this decision may be, chances are, in the near term, it will be met with increased opposition from Christian conservatives.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may be chance" to introduce a possibility when other explanations are also plausible. It's useful for hedging claims or suggesting alternative interpretations of data.

Common error

Avoid using "may be chance" as a premature conclusion without considering other potential factors. This can weaken your argument and suggest a lack of thorough investigation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be chance" functions as an epistemic hedge, indicating a possibility or uncertainty. It acknowledges that an event or observation could be due to randomness rather than a specific cause or factor. Ludwig examples illustrate this usage across various scientific and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "may be chance" serves as a linguistic tool to express uncertainty or suggest that an event's occurrence could be random, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's primarily used in scientific and news contexts to cautiously propose explanations. While grammatically correct and useful for hedging claims, it's essential to avoid overuse and consider alternative explanations. Alternatives such as "could be random" or "might be coincidence" can offer similar nuances. Ultimately, using "may be chance" effectively involves balancing caution with thorough investigation and providing context for the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be random

Focuses on the randomness aspect, implying a lack of predictable pattern.

might be coincidence

Highlights the possibility of an unplanned or accidental concurrence of events.

could be accidental

Emphasizes that something might have happened unintentionally or without deliberate planning.

possibly fortuitous

Suggests that something might be the result of good luck or a favorable accident.

perhaps a fluke

Implies an unusual or improbable occurrence that is unlikely to be repeated.

possibly haphazard

Highlights the lack of planning or organization in an event or outcome.

conceivably arbitrary

Suggests that a decision or outcome may be based on random choice or personal whim.

possibly stochastic

Emphasizes the element of randomness or probability in a process or event.

maybe unintended

Focuses on the lack of intention or purpose behind an event or outcome.

it is a crapshoot

Idiomatic expression indicating that the outcome is highly uncertain and dependent on luck.

FAQs

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

You can use "may be chance" to suggest that a particular outcome or observation could be due to random luck or coincidence, rather than a specific cause. For example, "The correlation between these two variables "may be chance"".

What are some alternatives to saying "may be chance"?

Alternatives include "could be random", "might be coincidence", or "could be accidental". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "may be chance" in formal writing?

Yes, "may be chance" is appropriate for formal writing when used to cautiously suggest a possible explanation. However, consider providing additional analysis or evidence to support your suggestion.

When should I avoid using "may be chance"?

Avoid using "may be chance" if you have strong evidence to suggest a different explanation. Also, be cautious of overusing it, as it can make your arguments seem weak or uncertain.