may be refined

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may be refined" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the possibility of improving or enhancing something, such as a process, idea, or product. Example: "The initial design of the app is functional, but it may be refined based on user feedback to enhance usability."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The obtained solutions may be refined by the application of more sophisticated models.

Procedia Engineering

The purpose is to stimulate debate so that existing economic techniques may be refined or new methods developed.

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Furthermore, this study sets a foundation that may be refined and adapted to treat other dominant LGMD and related disorders.

Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids

Some horseshoe-crab experts consider fifteen thousand dollars to be too low an estimate, considering the amount of LAL that may be refined from a quart of blood.

The New Yorker

A mesh of nodes used in particle-in-cell simulations may be refined in some regions to obtain better local spatial resolution without adding excessive computational cost.

Journal of Computational Physics

Because estimates of actual or potential exposures and associated impacts on human and environmental receptors may be refined throughout the phases of the RI as new information is obtained, site characterization activities should be fully integrated with the development and evaluation of alternatives in the feasibility study.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

But the oil may not be refined immediately.

The Economist

The delineation of MPA boundaries may further be refined with information on seabird foraging ranges, at-sea density estimates, and tools for ranking areas based on conservation priorities.

Biological Conservation

This makes superconducting circuits especially well-suited for combining a coarse search using simplex methods, which may then be refined with a more powerful gradient-based method.

EPJ Quantum Technology

Conventional schema output may also be refined using degree centrality measurements [ 31].

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Further, our current target mismatch is based on past studies and may possibly be refined further (Churilov et al., 2013).

Brain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may be refined" when suggesting that something has the potential for improvement through careful adjustments or modifications. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is being refined and why.

Common error

Avoid overusing passive constructions like "may be refined" if an active voice would provide more clarity and directness. For example, instead of "The process may be refined by the team", consider "The team may refine the process".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be refined" functions as a modal verb construction in the passive voice, indicating a possibility or potential for improvement or further development. As shown by Ludwig, it's used to suggest that something is capable of being made more precise or of a higher quality.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

64%

News & Media

19%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "may be refined" is a grammatically correct and commonly used construction, as confirmed by Ludwig. Functioning as a modal verb in the passive voice, it suggests the possibility of improvement or further development. As Ludwig shows, it is most frequently found in scientific and academic contexts, indicating a formal register. While alternatives like "can be improved" or "could be enhanced" exist, "may be refined" conveys a specific nuance of potential and ongoing development. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines what is being refined and consider whether an active voice would provide greater clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

may be enhanced

Similar to "may be refined" but focuses on enhancement.

can be improved

Indicates the possibility of making something better.

could be enhanced

Suggests a potential for enrichment or augmentation.

may be optimized

Focuses on making something as effective as possible.

might be adjusted

Implies a slight alteration or modification.

is open to improvement

Emphasizes the potential for betterment.

might be fine-tuned

Indicates a precise adjustment for optimal performance.

can be tweaked

Suggests a minor adjustment or fine-tuning.

could be polished

Implies improving the appearance or quality.

is subject to revision

Highlights the possibility of future changes.

FAQs

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

You can use "may be refined" to suggest that something is capable of being improved or made more precise. For instance, "The initial hypothesis "may be refined" with further experimentation".

What are some alternatives to saying "may be refined"?

Alternatives include "can be improved", "could be enhanced", or "might be adjusted", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "may be refined" formal or informal?

"May be refined" is generally considered neutral to formal. It's suitable for academic, professional, and journalistic contexts.

What's the difference between "may be refined" and "can be refined"?

"May be refined" suggests a possibility, whereas "can be refined" implies an ability or capability. "The technique "may be refined"" suggests it's possible to improve it. "The technique "can be refined"" suggests it has the potential to be improved.