may be incorrect

USAGE SUMMARY

"may be incorrect" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used in a sentence to express uncertainty or possibility that something is wrong or incorrect. For example: - "The data in the report may be incorrect due to a processing error." - "I'm not entirely sure, but I think the date on the document may be incorrect." - "Please double-check your answers as some of them may be incorrect." - "There is a chance that the calculations may be incorrect, so let's review them again."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Results that may be incorrect," Dr. Mendelssohn replies.

The New York Times - Science

Our studies show, however, that this assumption may be incorrect.

Combustion and Flame

A recent study indicates that Jim's assumption may be incorrect.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, these answers may be incorrect if the underlying theory is faulty.

Artificial Intelligence

He says the sale of such data is troubling because race coding may be incorrect.

The New York Times - Tech

A model that accurately predicts the actions of one human collaborator may be incorrect for another.

University of California, Berkeley

I believe your conclusions may be incorrect based on your published methodology.

Stanford University

It may be incorrect to think of dinosaurs as fully extinct, we are told.

The New York Times - Arts

We only contact people where we have an indication that information may be incorrect.

Independent

To call the work merely an imitation of painting may be incorrect.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Yet the assumption that people process chunks of information one at a time may be incorrect.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "may be incorrect", always provide context or a reason for the potential inaccuracy to maintain transparency and build trust with your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "may be incorrect" excessively in situations where the inaccuracy is highly probable. Choose stronger, more direct language when the evidence overwhelmingly suggests an error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be incorrect" functions as a hedge, softening a statement to indicate uncertainty or a lack of complete confidence in its accuracy. This allows the speaker or writer to avoid making a definitive claim, as supported by the various examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

32%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "may be incorrect" is a common and grammatically correct way to express uncertainty about the accuracy of something. Ludwig AI confirms this. It serves as a hedge, softening claims and signaling the possibility of errors. As evidenced by Ludwig's examples, it is most frequently used in scientific and news media contexts. When employing this phrase, it's best practice to provide context or a reason for potential inaccuracy. Alternatives like "could be wrong" or "might be inaccurate" offer subtle variations in the level of uncertainty conveyed. Be mindful not to overuse the phrase in situations where inaccuracy is highly probable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be wrong

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

might be inaccurate

Substitutes "incorrect" with "inaccurate", focusing on a lack of precision or exactness.

could be flawed

Replaces "incorrect" with "flawed", implying a defect or imperfection.

might not be right

Uses a more informal phrasing to express the possibility of something being wrong.

could contain errors

Focuses on the presence of errors as the reason for potential incorrectness.

might be mistaken

Shifts the focus to the possibility of someone being wrong in their assessment or understanding.

could prove false

Highlights the potential for something to be disproven or shown to be untrue in the future.

might turn out to be wrong

Emphasizes the future revelation of potential incorrectness.

could be subject to error

Implies that the item in question is liable to have some kind of inaccuracy.

might require correction

Indicates a need for revision to make something right.

FAQs

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

Use "may be incorrect" to express a possibility that something is wrong. For example: "The information in that article "may be incorrect" because it's outdated."

What are some alternatives to "may be incorrect"?

You can use alternatives like "could be wrong", "might be inaccurate", or "could be flawed" depending on the level of uncertainty you want to convey.

Is it better to say "may be incorrect" or "is incorrect"?

"May be incorrect" indicates a possibility of an error, while "is incorrect" states it as a fact. Use ""may be incorrect"" when you're not completely sure and "is incorrect" when you have definitive proof.

What's the difference between "may be incorrect" and "might be incorrect"?

Both "may be incorrect" and "might be incorrect" express similar levels of possibility. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations, as they are largely interchangeable in meaning.