may be withheld

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may be withheld" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where information or resources might not be provided or shared, often due to legal, ethical, or policy reasons. Example: "Certain personal information may be withheld to protect the privacy of individuals involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

§ 501.724 Documents that may be withheld.

Cornell University

If you fail to do so, your degree may be withheld.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

That consent may be withheld for any reason, said Mr. Luxemburg, or for no reason.

The New York Times

Some documents may be withheld entirely, and some published only in part.

The New York Times

Otherwise, the diagnosis won't be accepted, recommendations won't be implemented, and valid data may be withheld.

Harvard Business Review

No secrets concerning local gossip, restaurants, habits, customs, property values or scandals may be withheld.

The New York Times - Travel

Credit toward service of sentence may be withheld as provided in section 3624(b) of this title.

Cornell University

Please include your name, mailing address and daytime telephone number; upon request, names may be withheld in print.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Even if removal of more nodes did not, in itself, improve survival [21], which is a controversial issue [2], adjuvant therapy may be withheld from some node-negative patients [22], including a subgroup misclassified as node-negative.

Chinese Journal of Cancer

If individual's bonus payments will exceed $1 million in a year, 35% may be withheld (without regard to employee's W-4).

WikiHow

If you work only part of the year, too much tax may be withheld.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may be withheld" when indicating a conditional possibility of something not being provided or revealed, often based on specific rules, policies, or circumstances. For example, "Information about ongoing investigations may be withheld to avoid compromising the process."

Common error

Avoid using "may be withheld" when a more direct and simpler term like "is not available" or "is restricted" would suffice. Overusing passive constructions can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or unclear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may be withheld" functions as a passive modal construction, indicating that something has the potential or permission to be held back or not disclosed. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

25%

News & Media

45%

Science

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may be withheld" is a very common passive modal construction used to express the possibility or conditionality of something not being provided or revealed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across academia, news, and science. When using this phrase, consider more direct alternatives if conditionality isn't essential. Remember, while grammatically sound, overuse can lead to overly formal writing. Use "may be withheld" strategically to maintain clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can be retained

Indicates that something has the ability to be held back or kept.

could be deferred

Suggests the action of postponing or delaying something until a later time, implying it's being held back temporarily.

might be restricted

Emphasizes the limitation placed on something, preventing its full release or access.

could be denied

Highlights the possibility of refusal or rejection, indicating that something is being held back.

can be kept confidential

Emphasizes the act of maintaining the secrecy of information, holding it back from public knowledge.

might not be disclosed

Highlights the potential for non-revelation, implying deliberate withholding of information.

may not be granted

Focuses on the potential lack of permission or approval, indicating that something is being held back.

might be excluded

Indicates the possibility of being left out or not included, implying a form of withholding.

can be suppressed

Suggests that something is being actively prevented from expression or release, implying a forceful act of withholding.

could be reserved

Focuses on the act of setting something aside for future use or specific purposes, meaning it's currently being withheld.

FAQs

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

You can use "may be withheld" to indicate that something might not be provided or revealed under certain circumstances. For example, "Access to certain files "may be withheld" for security reasons."

What are some alternatives to "may be withheld"?

Alternatives include "can be retained", "might be restricted", or "could be denied", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "may be withheld" instead of "is withheld"?

"May be withheld" suggests a possibility or conditionality, while "is withheld" indicates a definite action. Use "may be withheld" when the withholding is not certain but depends on circumstances. Otherwise, if the element is always withheld, use the latter.

What is the difference between "may be withheld" and "can be withheld"?

While both phrases indicate a possibility of withholding, "may be withheld" often implies a discretionary decision, while "can be withheld" suggests that it is within someone's power or authority to withhold something. In some contexts, they are interchangeable, but "may" often carries a softer tone.