may be directional

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may be directional" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that has the potential to indicate a direction or orientation, often in contexts like navigation, communication, or analysis. Example: "The signals emitted from the device may be directional, allowing for more precise targeting of the intended recipient."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The gasket may be directional, so be sure to install in the correct direction.

WikiHow

where D p  = D n /D c decides the nearness of neighbor junction to the destination point.TD represents the total traffic density between the current junction (Cj) and the neighbor or next-candidate junction (N Cj), may be directional or non-directional.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Further, since hybridization may be directional and sex-biased, separate analysis of both maternally and paternally inherited markers may yield important insights into the hybridization process.

Plosone

This epistasis may be directional, rather than zero-sum as is assumed in classical analytical models, which means that epistatic variance may be converted to additive genetic variance [22] [25].

Plosone

APL neurons are, therefore, an integral part of the DPM-α′β′ circuit and are likely to be concurrently activated with DPM neurons, although the gap junctions may be directional or rectified.

Current Biology

However, the patristic distances do seem to be to some extent proportional to genetic distance: even if at shorter term changes may be directional (and possibly driven by sexual selection), the accumulated change through several cladogenetic events has no directionality, becoming more like an unconstrained random drift and thus with a general correlation with genetic distance.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Whereas a simple statistical hypothesis might say, for example, "the chance of heads on tosses of the coin is precisely.65", a composite statistical hypothesis might say, "the chance of heads on tosses is either.65 or.75", or it may be a directional hypothesis that says, "the chance of heads on tosses is greater than.65".

SEP

Based on the multivariate analyses, findings involving positive associations of pet ownership with poor perceived health or disease indicators may be considered directional since the connections were weak.

Plosone

The notion that selection could impart a directionality to evolutionary change is familiar to any evolutionary biologist; however, that mutation could be directional may be less familiar (the interested reader should consult Yampolsky and Stoltzfus 2001).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Alternatively, Dr Richard Wise, psychologist at Windana Drug and Alcohol Recovery, believes the relationship between work and drinking may be bi-directional.

The Guardian - Opinion

Results from several longitudinal studies among adults suggest that the association between depression and headache may be bi-directional [9 11].

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "may be directional", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is potentially directional and what factors might influence this directionality. This will enhance clarity and precision in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "may be directional" as a vague qualifier without specifying the axis, path, or influencing factors. Always provide enough context to prevent misinterpretation or ambiguity regarding the direction being discussed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be directional" functions as a modal qualifier that indicates a possibility or potential characteristic. It modifies a noun or concept, suggesting that it possesses a directional property, but without asserting it definitively. Ludwig AI confirms that "may be directional" is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

75%

Wiki

13%

News & Media

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may be directional" is a phrase used to express the possibility or potential for something to exhibit directionality. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is correct and usable. Predominantly found in scientific and technical writing, it indicates a cautious or speculative assertion. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to provide sufficient context to clarify the factors influencing the potential direction. Alternatives include "could be directional" or "might be directional", which offer similar nuances. While grammatically sound, avoid using it as a vague qualifier without specific references to the directionality in question.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be directional

Replaces "may" with "could", suggesting a slightly lower degree of certainty or possibility.

might be directional

Substitutes "may" with "might", implying a similar level of uncertainty or possibility as "could".

can be directional

Replaces "may" with "can", indicating a possibility that is more about capability or inherent property.

potentially directional

Uses the adverb "potentially" to describe directionality, focusing on the inherent possibility.

possibly directional

Employs the adverb "possibly" to express directionality as a chance occurrence.

may exhibit directionality

Replaces "be directional" with "exhibit directionality", focusing on the observed behavior or characteristic.

may indicate direction

Shifts the focus from being directional to indicating a direction, implying a sign or signal.

may have a direction

Emphasizes the existence of a direction rather than the property of being directional.

is possibly directed

Changes the structure to passive voice emphasizing the state of being directed, with similar nuance to "possibly directional".

may follow a direction

Focuses on the action of following a direction, implying a process or path.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "may be directional" to sound more certain?

While "may be directional" expresses possibility, you can convey more certainty by using phrases like "is likely directional" or "is expected to be directional" depending on the strength of the evidence.

What does it mean when something "may be directional"?

It means that something has the potential to exhibit a specific direction or orientation. The direction might be influenced by internal or external factors, and its precise trajectory isn't guaranteed but rather probabilistic.

Is "may be directional" the same as "is directional"?

No, "is directional" implies certainty about the directionality of something, while "may be directional" suggests a possibility or tendency. The former is definitive, the latter is speculative.

When is it appropriate to use "may be directional" in scientific writing?

It's suitable when describing phenomena where directionality is hypothesized but not definitively proven, such as in early stages of research or when describing complex systems with variable outcomes. Ensure to provide the rationale for suggesting directionality.