may be founded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may be founded" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are suggesting that something is possible. Example: "The success of our project may be founded on our collective effort."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

It should be no surprise that many are wondering if Obama's new found love for trade deals may be founded in a desire to pave the way for an "Obama Foundation".

Huffington Post

Argentina may be founded on Italian immigration, but it does pizza its own way: thick bready base, easy on the tomato, oozing with mozzarella.

The Guardian - Travel

Signed comment about the insanity defense... "Conduct may be founded on the hard rock or the wet marshes," Nick Carraway observes in "The Great Gatsby," "but after a certain point I don't care what it's founded on".

The New Yorker

As the narrator reads the novel's fourth paragraph — "Conduct may be founded on the hard rock or the wet marshes, but after a certain point I don't care what it's founded on" — his superior arrives and sits, stony-faced, at a typewriter at the opposite end of the desk; he is apparently unfazed that his employee is reading literature aloud on the job.

The New Yorker

By Jeffrey Toobin The New Yorker, April 1 , 1996P. 7 Signed comment about the insanity defense... "Conduct may be founded on the hard rock or the wet marshes," Nick Carraway observes in "The Great Gatsby," "but after a certain point I don't care what it's founded on".

The New Yorker

The New Yorker, April 1 , 1996P. 7 Signed comment about the insanity defense... "Conduct may be founded on the hard rock or the wet marshes," Nick Carraway observes in "The Great Gatsby," "but after a certain point I don't care what it's founded on".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

A21 Lost Spacecraft May Be Found The National Imagery and Mapping Agency, a federal agency that analyzes spy photos, said it might have detected the missing Mars Polar Lander on the planet's surface.

The New York Times

The power of the story may well be founded on its symbolic relation to the poet's own sense of worthlessness and impotence, as expressed in a letter to his friend, John Morgan: "What Crime is there scarcely which has not been included in or followed from the one guilt of taking opium?

The Guardian - Books

57(f) classifications may also be founded on GHS criteria such as respiratory or skin sensitisation which is, according to ECHA, of equivalent concern to CMRs.

Environmental Sciences Europe

Other former players suggest that comments read as racist may not always be founded in racial bias.

The Guardian

Nations have been founded on a whim, but the People's Republic of Brighton and Hove may be the first to be founded as a therapeutic device after an unexpected Tory victory.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "may be founded", ensure the context clearly indicates the element upon which something is possibly based or established. For example, "The company's success may be founded on its innovative marketing strategies."

Common error

Avoid using "may be founded" when you want to state a fact or a certainty. Instead, use stronger verbs like "is", "was", or "is based on" to express confidence in the statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be founded" functions as a modal verb phrase, suggesting possibility or likelihood regarding the basis or origin of something. It indicates that something could be based on or established upon something else but without certainty.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

29%

News & Media

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

14%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may be founded" is a grammatically correct modal verb phrase used to express the possibility that something is based on or originates from something else. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides several real-world examples from diverse sources. Though not extremely common, it appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the possible basis or origin, and avoid using it in situations requiring absolute certainty. Alternatives like "might be based on" or "could stem from" can provide nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be established

Replaces "may" with "could" offering similar level of possibility and "founded" with "established" for a more formal tone.

might be based on

Substitutes "may" with "might", indicating a slightly lower probability, and replaces "founded" with "based on", focusing on the underlying principle.

can be rooted in

Uses "can" instead of "may", suggesting general possibility, and replaces "founded" with "rooted", highlighting the origin or source.

possibly originate from

Replaces "may be founded" with a verb phrase indicating potential origin.

potentially arise from

Expresses a chance of occurrence or beginning from a source.

conceivably stem from

Indicates the possibility of something originating or developing from something else.

it's plausible that it's based on

Uses a more explicit expression to convey possibility and foundation.

it is conceivable that it is established upon

Uses a more formal tone to convey possibility and establishment.

it's possible that it's built on

Uses an explicit expression to convey possibility and foundation.

it is imaginable that it is predicated on

Uses a more theoretical tone to convey possibility and base.

FAQs

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

Use "may be founded" to suggest a possible basis or origin for something. For example, "Their optimism "may be founded" on a misunderstanding of the situation".

What does "may be founded" mean?

"May be founded" suggests that something has a possible origin or basis. It implies uncertainty about the foundation.

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

"May be founded" indicates a possibility, while "is founded" states a certainty. "The rumor "may be founded" on truth" suggests the rumor might have a basis in reality, while "The rumor is founded on truth" asserts that it definitely does.

What are some alternatives to "may be founded"?

Alternatives include "might be based on", "could stem from", or "possibly originate from", depending on the desired nuance.