may be doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'may be doing' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a possibly occurring action. For example: I am not sure what he is up to right now, he may be doing something completely different.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Some may be doing so.

The Economist

Mr Cheney may be doing the reverse.

The Economist

They may be doing drugs.

The New York Times

"We may be doing some schedule changes".

The New York Times

And Al Gore may be doing that now".

The New York Times

Of course, Coetzee may be doing the world a favour.

The Guardian - Books

Fleck may be doing the same for the banjo.

The Guardian - Music

By inaction, we may be doing irreparable harm".

The New York Times

It's that other countries may be doing worse.

The New York Times

Cinderella may be doing something like that, just more politely.

The New Yorker

But he may be doing Labour a favour.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing uncertainty about an ongoing action, use "may be doing" to indicate a possibility without stating it as a definite fact. This helps maintain a neutral and objective tone.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "may be doing" if the context suggests a higher degree of certainty. Alternatives like "is likely to be doing" or "is probably doing" can provide more precise communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be doing" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing possibility or uncertainty regarding an action in progress. As supported by Ludwig, it indicates that something is potentially happening but is not confirmed as a definite fact.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may be doing" is a versatile phrase used to express uncertainty or possibility about an ongoing action. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media, followed by Science contexts, showcasing its utility in expressing speculation or conjecture. While it is a valuable tool for nuanced communication, writers should also consider stronger alternatives when a higher degree of certainty is warranted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be performing

Replaces "may" with "could", indicating a slightly lower degree of certainty and uses "performing" for a more formal tone.

might be carrying out

Substitutes "may" with "might", suggesting a similar level of possibility but employs "carrying out" for a more procedural or deliberate action.

possibly engaging in

Uses "possibly" to convey the uncertainty and "engaging in" to suggest active involvement in an activity.

potentially undertaking

Replaces the modal verb with an adverb and uses a more formal verb, "undertaking", indicating a serious or significant action.

may well be involved in

Adds "well" to "may" to strengthen the possibility and uses "involved in" to suggest participation.

perhaps executing

Employs "perhaps" to express the possibility and "executing" to denote a planned or skilled action.

conceivably working on

Uses "conceivably" to highlight the possibility, even if remote, and "working on" to refer to an ongoing effort.

is likely to be performing

Changes the modal verb to a statement of likelihood, increasing the degree of certainty slightly.

is possibly conducting

Similar to "may be doing" but uses "is possibly" to emphasize the uncertainty and "conducting" for a formal activity.

might actually do

Emphasizes the reality of the potential action by including "actually".

FAQs

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

Use "may be doing" to express a possibility or uncertainty about an action that is currently happening. For example, "He "may be doing" his homework right now, but I'm not sure."

What are some alternatives to "may be doing"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "could be performing", "might be carrying out", or "possibly engaging in" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to use "may be doing" in formal writing?

Yes, "may be doing" is appropriate for formal writing when you need to express uncertainty or possibility about an ongoing action. However, consider if a more precise alternative would be more effective.

What's the difference between "may be doing" and "is doing"?

"May be doing" suggests uncertainty or possibility, while "is doing" indicates a definite, ongoing action. For example, "He "may be doing" research" implies it's possible, but "He is doing research" states it as a fact.