may be relevant

USAGE SUMMARY

"may be relevant" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used as an auxiliary verb followed by an adjective, as in "may be + adjective," to express the possibility or potential for something to be relevant in a certain context. Example: "I understand your concerns, but I don't think your personal opinion may be relevant in this discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

But that may be yesterday's story.

The New York Times

It still may be today.

The New York Times

There may be 5,000 or more.

The Guardian

Today's stingy shopper may be tomorrow's angry voter.

The New York Times

Today's embattled scientist may be tomorrow's hero.

The Guardian

Today's ally may be tomorrow's election foe.

The Guardian - Opinion

The death of print may be tomorrow's headline.

The New York Times

But some campaigners believe the true figure may be 8,000.

The Guardian

Last year's darlings may be this year's goats.

The New York Times

"It may be today, it may be tomorrow, it may be later," one senior law enforcement official said, "but we will get these guys.

The New York Times

The real number of victims may be 2,000, Franke said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may be relevant" to indicate a possibility rather than a certainty. This softens your claim and allows for further investigation or consideration. For instance, instead of saying "This information is relevant", consider "This information may be relevant to the discussion".

Common error

Avoid using "may be relevant" when the relevance is already well-established. Overusing it can weaken your argument and make your writing sound uncertain when it shouldn't. Ensure there is a genuine question about the relevance before using the phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be relevant" functions as an auxiliary expression indicating a possibility of connection or importance. As Ludwig AI shows, it softens the claim of direct relevance, suggesting further consideration.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may be relevant" is a phrase used to express a possibility that something is connected or important to a particular topic. As Ludwig AI reports, it is grammatically correct, but its frequency is currently missing due to the lack of examples in the provided data. When writing, it's best to use this phrase when you want to suggest a potential connection without making a definitive claim. Avoid overuse in situations where the relevance is already clear to maintain a confident tone in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be pertinent

Changes the auxiliary verb to express possibility while retaining the meaning of relevance.

might be applicable

Substitutes "relevant" with "applicable" to suggest suitability in a specific situation.

could prove useful

Replaces "relevant" with "useful" to highlight the practical benefit.

may prove significant

Emphasizes the potential importance of something instead of its direct relevance.

might hold value

Shifts the focus to the inherent worth or importance something may have.

could have bearing

Uses a different phrasing to indicate influence or connection.

may carry weight

Implies that something might be influential or important.

could be of consequence

Highlights the potential importance or significance of something.

might pertain to

Indicates a direct relationship or connection to the subject.

may apply

Shortens the phrase while retaining the core idea of applicability.

FAQs

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

Use "may be relevant" to express that something has a potential connection or importance to a particular topic. For example, "This data "may be relevant" to our analysis of market trends".

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

You can use alternatives like "could be pertinent", "might be applicable", or "could prove useful" depending on the context.

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

Use "is relevant" when you are certain of the connection. Use ""may be relevant"" when you want to express a possibility that needs further investigation.

When should I avoid using "may be relevant"?

Avoid using ""may be relevant"" when the relevance is obvious or already established. Overusing it can make your writing sound less confident.