may be considering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may be considering" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing potential thoughts or actions that someone might be contemplating. Example: "The committee may be considering a new approach to the project in light of recent developments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The EU and the commissioners may be considering issues, alternatives.

The Guardian

They may be considering winning a World Cup in Brazil.

The Guardian - Sport

Some N.B.A. officials speculate that Chambers and Katz may be considering selling their interests in YankeeNets.

The New York Times - Sports

But millions more may be considering a competitor — an Android phone.

The New York Times - Tech

He used a one-year time-frame; the voters may be considering a longer period.

The Economist

Cruise Critic (cruisecritic.co.uk) is a good place to read reviews from other travellers of any voyage you may be considering.

The Guardian - Travel

Some of these budding entrepreneurs may be considering retirement or reducing their responsibilities in the next 10 to 15 years.

The Guardian

Some church observers interpret this as an indication that the Vatican may be considering a ban on homosexual seminarians.

The New York Times

The administration may be considering using commando units to make lightning raids against terrorist camps at night.

The New York Times

But public-owned broadcaster TVNZ has revealed Twentieth Century Fox may be considering other options for cost reasons.

The Guardian - Film

You may be considering getting her another designer cushion like last year, but she doesn't even remember getting that.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, prefer "may be considering" over "might consider" when you're indicating an ongoing process of thinking about something.

Common error

While versatile, "may be considering" can sound hesitant in contexts requiring decisive language. In those situations, opt for stronger verbs like "evaluating" or "planning" to project confidence and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be considering" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating possibility and ongoing deliberation. It suggests that an action or decision is under review but not yet finalized. This aligns with Ludwig's examples, showing the phrase used to describe ongoing evaluations or potential actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may be considering" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to convey the possibility of future actions or decisions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, predominantly appearing in news, business, and science. When writing, remember that it is a neutral expression and there are more formal or informal alternatives, such as "might contemplate" or "are thinking about". Using "may be considering" helps soften statements and expresses a degree of uncertainty, but avoid overuse in contexts demanding decisiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might contemplate

Replaces "may be" with "might", suggesting a slightly lower probability and uses a more formal verb.

could be contemplating

Substitutes "may be" with "could be", also implying a lower certainty and employs a more thoughtful verb.

are possibly thinking about

Replaces "considering" with "thinking about", making the phrase less formal and adds "possibly" for emphasis.

are potentially evaluating

Uses "potentially evaluating" instead of "considering", indicating a more structured assessment.

might entertain the idea of

More verbose and formal, suggesting the possibility of accepting an idea.

could give thought to

Suggests the action of dedicating thought to something.

are weighing up the option of

Implies a careful balancing of different choices.

are mulling over

Informal, indicating a slow and thoughtful consideration.

are toying with the idea of

Suggests a casual or tentative consideration of an idea.

are exploring the possibility of

Highlights the investigation aspect of considering something.

FAQs

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

Use "may be considering" to express that someone is possibly thinking about or evaluating a particular course of action. For example, "The company "may be considering" a new marketing strategy."

What are some alternatives to "may be considering"?

You can use alternatives such as "might contemplate", "could be contemplating", or "are possibly thinking about" depending on the context.

Is "may be considering" formal or informal?

The phrase "may be considering" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though slightly more formal alternatives exist for highly professional settings.

Which is correct, "may be considering" or "might be considering"?

Both "may be considering" and "might be considering" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice between them often depends on the degree of uncertainty you want to express; "might" typically suggests a slightly lower probability than "may."