may be usually

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may be usually" is not correct and does not work well in written English.
It is a contradictory expression, as "may be" suggests possibility while "usually" indicates frequency, making it unclear. Example: "The results may be usually consistent, but they vary significantly in some cases."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

In a small but significant comment on her status as a sexual object, she typically wears outfits that, tight as they may be, usually cover her from head to toe.

The New Yorker

In the similar sense to the previous chapter, reducing the airbrushing time may be usually favorable for subsequent works with smaller RLTs.

Nano Convergence

The bad influences of nonlinearity may lead to the distortions of both amplitudes and phases in output signals [7], which may be usually characterized by the amplitude-amplitude (AM-AM) model and amplitude-phase (AM-PM) model signal's amplitude, respectively.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The problem of existence of solution to quadratic integral equations may be usually reduced to a fixed point problem of the form begin{aligned} Ax Bx+Cx=x, quad xinOmega, end{aligned} (1.1) where Ω is a nonempty subset of a Banach algebra X.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

Thus, glucocorticoid-activated genes containing FoxO binding site nearby the GRE may be usually suppressed by insulin.

Cell and Bioscience

Patients eligible for surgery may be usually better than those who are not candidates and this may bias the results towards a better outcome.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

March to May is usually the busiest period in the market, as eager purchasers scamper from home to home amid the ripening buds.

The Economist

The theme of rich people and other old grumps disapproving of F.D.R. was a common one....From the twenties through the mid-sixties, the President, whoever he may be, is usually somewhere in the background — a cultural signifier seen from a respectful distance, through the lens of some (usually) likable personal quirk, such as Harry Truman's piano playing..

The New Yorker

The theme of rich people and other old grumps disapproving of F.D.R. was a common one....From the twenties through the mid-sixties, the President, whoever he may be, is usually somewhere in the background — a cultural signifier seen from a respectful distance, through the lens of some (usually) likable personal quirk, such as Harry Truman's piano playing.

The New Yorker

Whatever we think the source of a miracle may be, they usually seem to happen when human beings are committed to a possibility before there is any evidence that it is possible.

Huffington Post

Heartfelt though they may be, they usually contain the subtext: "The other guy is less unified than me, sling him out".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "may be usually" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and grammatically sound alternatives like "might often be" or "can typically be" to express a combination of possibility and frequency.

Common error

Do not combine "may be" with "usually" as it creates ambiguity. "May be" indicates uncertainty, while "usually" implies a high degree of certainty. This combination leads to contradictory statements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be usually" attempts to combine possibility and frequency, but functions poorly due to grammatical awkwardness. Ludwig AI highlights its incorrectness. The phrase aims to qualify a statement with both uncertainty and typicality, leading to ambiguity. While some sources use it, clearer alternatives are preferable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "may be usually" attempts to convey a combination of possibility and frequency but is grammatically questionable. As Ludwig AI points out, it is not considered correct and should be avoided. While examples exist across various sources, including Science, News & Media and Wiki, it's best to opt for clearer alternatives like "might often be" or "can typically be" to express the intended meaning more effectively. Using grammatically sound phrases enhances clarity and professionalism in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might often be

Replaces "may be usually" to clarify the combined sense of possibility and frequency.

can typically be

Indicates a typical occurrence within the realm of possibility.

is often the case

Emphasizes the frequency of an event or situation.

is generally true

Highlights the general validity of a statement.

tends to be

Suggests a common tendency or pattern.

is commonly found

Focuses on the common occurrence of something.

typically occurs

Highlights the typical occurrence of an event.

is frequently observed

Emphasizes the frequent observation of a phenomenon.

is usually seen

Focuses on the common visibility or detection of something.

often happens to be

Emphasizes both the frequency and incidental nature of an occurrence.

FAQs

Is the phrase "may be usually" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "may be usually" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. "May be" expresses possibility, while "usually" indicates frequency. Using them together creates a contradictory statement. It's better to use phrases like "might often be" or "can typically be".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "may be usually"?

Instead of "may be usually", consider using alternatives such as "might often be", "can typically be", or "is often the case", depending on the specific context.

How can I express something that is both possible and frequent without using "may be usually"?

To express both possibility and frequency, you can use phrases like "it often happens that", "it is frequently the case that", or "it typically occurs that". These options clearly convey both aspects without grammatical issues.

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

"May be" indicates a possibility, while "usually is" suggests that something is generally true. Combining them directly is grammatically awkward. Instead, restructure your sentence to clearly express both the possibility and the typicality, such as "it might be that it usually is" or "it can typically be found that".