may be finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may be finished" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the possibility that something has been completed or concluded. Example: "The report may be finished by the end of the day, but I will confirm with the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

"Dan may be finished".

The New Yorker

Martina Hingis may be finished.

The New York Times - Sports

The war may be finished, but nothing feels stable.

The New York Times

As for Mr Formigoni, he may be finished as governor.

The Economist

Architects are still unwilling to put an exact date on when the building may be finished.

The Guardian

Production may be finished, but the Medusa is still in use as Mr. Glodell's everyday transport.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Kales and cabbages may be finishing but cauliflower is delicious right now.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Not surprisingly, Fizer, who is averaging 30.3 points in the past eight games and may be finishing his college career with a flourish, is not fazed.

The New York Times - Sports

Feb. 20, 2016, 7 31 p.m. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson may be finishing last in South Carolina's Republican primary, but he says he's not dropping out of the race.

Los Angeles Times

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson may be finishing last in South Carolina's Republican primary, but he says he's not dropping out of the race. .

Los Angeles Times

An example may be finishing your book report, cleaning your room or even preparing a new recipe you found.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may be finished" to express a possibility or likelihood of completion, rather than a certainty. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is potentially being completed.

Common error

Avoid using "may be finished" when you are certain something is complete. Use phrases like "is finished" or "has been completed" to indicate certainty, reserving "may be finished" for situations where the completion is still uncertain.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be finished" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a possibility or likelihood that something has been completed. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

17%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Lifestyle

3%

Arts

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may be finished" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to express the possibility of completion. As shown by Ludwig AI, this phrase appears frequently in news, science, and general online content. When using "may be finished", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is potentially completed and remember that this implies uncertainty, distinguishing it from phrases that express definite completion. By doing so, writers can leverage the phrase's functionality to properly communicate the nuances of events whose completion is not certain.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be completed

Changes the modal verb to 'might', suggesting a slightly lower probability than 'may'.

could be concluded

Replaces 'finished' with 'concluded', implying a more formal or definitive end.

might be done

Uses 'done' instead of 'finished', making the phrase more informal and conversational.

could be over

Emphasizes the termination or cessation of something, rather than its completion.

may come to an end

Expresses the idea of something reaching its final point or termination.

may reach completion

Focuses on the act of reaching a finished state, often implying a process.

may be finalized

Indicates that something is in the process of being made final or official.

might draw to a close

A more metaphorical way of saying something is ending, often used for events or periods of time.

may cease operation

Suggests the ending of operations or activities, often in a business or organizational context.

could be terminated

Implies a formal or official ending, often used in legal or contractual contexts.

FAQs

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

Use "may be finished" to express the possibility that something is complete. For example, "The project "may be finished" by tomorrow, but we need to confirm with the team."

What can I say instead of "may be finished"?

You can use alternatives like "might be completed", "could be concluded", or "might be done" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "may be finished" or "is finished"?

"May be finished" implies uncertainty about completion, while "is finished" indicates certainty. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the situation.

What's the difference between "may be finished" and "may have finished"?

"May be finished" refers to a future or ongoing possibility. "May have finished" implies that something possibly completed in the past. For example, "The report "may be finished" tomorrow" versus "The report "may have finished" yesterday".