may be positioned

USAGE SUMMARY

"may be positioned" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something has the potential to be placed or positioned in a certain manner. Example: The sculpture may be positioned in the courtyard to maximize its visibility.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Negative regulatory sequences may be positioned between nucleotides −380 and −844 and possible positive regulatory motifs are located between nucleotides −844 and −1007 sequences.

Plosone

But now Ms. Mufti, whose sister went on to live a normal life, may be positioned to help end what some accused her father of helping to start.

The New York Times

Further, and more important, by becoming a private nonprofit entity the center may be positioned to take advantage of California's complex Medicaid rules, which sometimes reimburse private hospitals at higher levels than public ones.

The New York Times

The Make a Picture Story Test, from 1942, consists of a kit of sixty-seven human, superhuman, and animal paper figures a ghost, a one-legged man, a police officer, a cocker spaniel, Santa Claus which may be positioned within a psychically laden setting.

The New Yorker

Each has 86 electrons arranged as in the atoms of the noble gas radon (which precedes actinium by three columns in the table), with three more electrons that may be positioned in the 6d and 7s orbitals (the seventh shell is outermost), and with additional electrons packing into inside orbitals.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nicely as ABB may be positioned, Hogan still has work to do.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Google may be positioning itself as the curator for digital marketers.

The New York Times

Hedge fund Appaloosa Partners may be positioning itself to stir things up in the bankruptcy of auto-parts maker Dana Corporation.

The New York Times

Some of her rivals reckon that she may be positioning herself for a second career, in politics.

The Economist

He may be positioning himself as a centrist alternative to Mr Morales on the left and former president Jorge Quiroga on the right.

The Economist

Some justices may be positioning themselves for this spot -- knowing that whoever is nominated would probably face a protracted, partisan Senate hearing in which he or she would be expected to explain any extreme points of view.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "may be positioned", ensure the context clearly indicates the element being positioned and the possible location or arrangement. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the clarity of your writing.

Common error

Avoid overusing "may be positioned" in contexts where an active voice would be more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "The sensor may be positioned by the engineer", consider "The engineer may position the sensor".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be positioned" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing possibility combined with a passive construction indicating a potential state of being placed or arranged. Ludwig AI confirms it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

32%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may be positioned" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that expresses the possibility of something being placed or arranged in a certain way. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It is most frequently found in scientific and news contexts and carries a neutral tone. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly specifies the element being positioned and its potential location to avoid any ambiguity. Alternative phrases like "could be located" or "might be placed" can offer slight variations in meaning or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be located

Changes the modal verb to 'could' and replaces 'positioned' with 'located', implying a similar sense of potential placement.

might be placed

Replaces 'positioned' with 'placed' and 'may' with 'might', offering a slightly different nuance in the degree of possibility.

can be situated

Substitutes 'may' with 'can', suggesting a capability or allowance for being positioned; 'situated' replaces 'positioned'.

is potentially located

Uses 'potentially' to modify 'located', emphasizing the possibility of being in a certain location, and uses 'is' instead of 'may be'.

has the possibility of being placed

Expresses the idea using a more verbose structure, focusing on the 'possibility' of placement.

can potentially be positioned

Combines 'can' and 'potentially' for emphasis, while retaining 'positioned'.

could potentially be located

Similar to the above, but uses 'could' instead of 'can' and 'located' instead of 'positioned'.

is liable to be positioned

Replaces "may" with "is liable", indicating that something is likely to be positioned in a certain manner.

has a chance to be situated

Conveys the idea of a probability of being situated.

it's possible to position

Shift the structure to an active voice and convey the likelihood in the potential placement of something.

FAQs

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

Use "may be positioned" to indicate a potential or possible location or arrangement. For example, "The new sensor "may be positioned" near the entrance to monitor traffic flow".

What are some alternatives to "may be positioned"?

You can use alternatives like "could be located", "might be placed", or "can be situated" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "may be positioned" or "can be positioned"?

"May be positioned" implies a possibility, whereas "can be positioned" suggests a capability or permission. The choice depends on whether you're emphasizing possibility or ability. For example, "The statue "may be positioned" in the garden" suggests it's possible, while "The statue "can be positioned" in the garden" suggests there's a way to position it there.

What is the difference between "may be positioned" and "is positioned"?

"May be positioned" indicates a potential or planned placement, while "is positioned" indicates a current, definite placement. For instance, "The camera "may be positioned" later today" suggests a future action, whereas "The camera is positioned to capture the entire scene" indicates its current state.