may be endangering

USAGE SUMMARY

"may be endangering" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that could potentially cause harm or detriment. For example, "Affecting the environment in this manner may be endangering the species that live there."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The Colts know all about those risks; they may be endangering their playoff chances.

The New York Times - Sports

The substandard management of the program may be endangering security, some contend.

The New York Times

Global warming may be endangering the continent's western ice sheet, but Antarctica is still far from having melted.

The New Yorker

Now coaches and researchers fear that some young athletes may be endangering their health in an effort to reach massive proportions and attract the attention of college recruiters.

The New York Times

Foreign Web sites that distribute American-made entertainment and counterfeit products, like fake pharmaceuticals, are "stealing our profits, they're stealing our jobs and they may be endangering the health of Americans," said Mr. Smith, a Republican from San Antonio.

The New York Times

The idea behind the trigger warning is that if you don't provide – for example – a rape victim with advance information about, say, the examination of a literary text that deals intimately with the subject of sexual violation, then you may be endangering their mental health, by exposing them to a "trigger" that will stir into life previous trauma.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The deer may be endangered, but the pie abounds.

The New York Times - Travel

They may be endangered one day and hunted the next.

The New York Times - Science

Literacy may be endangered today, but not electronic literacy.

The New York Times

Federal health officials have concluded that most nursing homes are understaffed to the point that patients may be endangered.

The New York Times

He argued that "liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as by the abuses of power".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "may be endangering", ensure the context clearly indicates what is at risk and the potential consequences. This enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "may be endangering" when the risk is already confirmed or highly probable. Opt for stronger verbs or phrases to reflect the certainty, such as "is endangering" or "definitely harming".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be endangering" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a possibility or potential for harm. Ludwig examples show its usage in contexts where actions or situations could lead to negative consequences. It indicates a degree of uncertainty about the harmful outcome.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may be endangering" is a useful tool for expressing a potential risk or harm. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts, indicating its broad applicability. While not as common as other similar phrases, "may be endangering" effectively conveys a sense of caution and potential danger. When using the phrase, ensure the context clarifies what is at risk and avoid overstating the certainty of the harm.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be jeopardizing

Replaces "may be" with "could be", indicating a possibility, and uses the stronger verb "jeopardizing" to emphasize the risk.

might be threatening

Substitutes "may be" with "might be", suggesting a degree of uncertainty, and employs "threatening" to highlight a potential danger.

potentially harming

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise expression using "potentially" to indicate possibility and "harming" to denote damage.

could put at risk

Changes the structure to emphasize the act of placing something in a vulnerable position.

possibly compromising

Uses "possibly" instead of "may be", and "compromising" to suggest a weakening or undermining effect.

is at risk of damaging

Restructures the sentence to focus on the state of being at risk.

there's a risk of harming

Introduces a more explicit statement of risk, using a noun phrase.

it threatens to damage

Employs "threatens to" to underscore the potential for future harm.

presents a danger to

Shifts the focus to the action of presenting a danger.

poses a threat to

Similar to the previous phrase, but uses "poses" to convey the act of presenting a threat.

FAQs

How do you use "may be endangering" in a sentence?

Use "may be endangering" to express a possibility of causing harm or risk. For example, "Lack of funding "may be endangering" the project's success".

What are some alternatives to "may be endangering"?

Alternatives include phrases like "could be jeopardizing", "might be threatening", or "potentially harming", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "may be endangering" versus "is endangering"?

"May be endangering" is used when there is a possibility or uncertainty about the harm. "Is endangering" is used when the harm is certain or already occurring.

What is the difference between "may be endangering" and "may be at risk"?

"May be endangering" implies a potential action causing harm to something else. "May be at risk" implies a potential state of being harmed. For example, "Pollution "may be endangering" the fish population," whereas the fish population "may be at risk" due to pollution.