may either be explained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may either be explained" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to discuss two possible explanations for a particular situation. For example, "The sudden success of the company may either be explained by good luck or by competent management."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The preponderance of unusual features seen in the type and only skull of Nedoceratops hatcheri may either be explained as a whole suite of abnormalities in a single aberrant individual of Triceratops, or be explained as a suite of autapomorphies characterizing a taxon distinct from Triceratops.

Plosone

These findings may either be explained by intra-tumor heterogeneity as suggested by Platt et al., or that the biological consequences of activating FGFR3 and RAS mutations do not overlap completely and therefore double mutants may result in an additive but small selective advantage.

Plosone

The 'motorcycle effect' may either be explained as a proxy for wealth or social status, or work more directly through increasing mobility.

Global Health Action

This may either be explained by functional redundancy or the need to repress several cell wall functions and/or components in order to cause severe cell wall damage.

BMC Genomics

Such a skewed male mating success may either be explained by physically limited access of subdominant males to females and/or by female preference for dominant males [ 11- 13].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Such a patchy distribution may either be explained by HGTs or by the presence of several functional equivalent SBPs in the common stramenopile ancestor followed by differential gene loss due to metabolic reorganization in descending lineages.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The reputation of Mrs Beeton, as opposed to Mrs Beeton, has also taken some stick: Christopher Driver, in The British at Table (1983), wrote that its "progressive debasement" under successive revisers and enlargers "may either explain or be explained by the relative stagnation and want of refinement in the indigenous cooking of Britain between 1880 and 1930".

The Guardian - Books

These geographic distribution patterns may perhaps be explained either by regional gene pools or by environmental influences.

BMC Ophthalmology

The differences we observed may possibly be explained either by changes in leucocyte populations expressing varying amounts of XIAP, and/or increases in cellular XIAP levels due to cell division or stimulation with G-CSF or GM-CSF.

British Journal of Cancer

The different results may therefore be explained by either different posttranslational modification of SCN1A protein in brain tissue or blockade of SCN1A translation by microRNA.

Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics

Nonsyntenic paleoduplicated genes may therefore be explained by either a single transposition event (first hypothesis) or successive deletion and duplication (second hypothesis) leading to SSD (supplementary fig. S2 A, Supplementary Material online).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "may either be explained", ensure that both potential explanations are clearly and concisely stated to avoid ambiguity. This helps the reader understand the alternative possibilities being considered.

Common error

Avoid embedding too many clauses or adding unnecessary details within the sentence using "may either be explained". Keep the sentence streamlined for clarity and ease of comprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may either be explained" functions as a hedge, softening a claim by presenting two possible explanations for a given phenomenon. It introduces uncertainty, aligning with Ludwig AI's indication that this phrase expresses possibilities rather than definitive statements.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

90%

News & Media

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may either be explained" is a phrase used to present two possible explanations for a particular event or observation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. It is most commonly found in scientific and formal contexts, where it serves to introduce potential causes or reasons with a degree of uncertainty. While the phrase is relatively uncommon, its appropriate use can enhance the clarity and analytical depth of your writing. Be sure to provide both explanations clearly to avoid any confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can be attributed to either

Replaces "may be explained" with "can be attributed", shifting the focus to the cause.

could be due to either

Suggests that the explanation is a consequence of one of two factors.

might stem from either

Emphasizes the origin or source of the explanation.

is possibly caused by either

Highlights the potential causes behind the explanation.

can arise from either

Focuses on how the explanation emerges or originates.

may be a consequence of either

Highlights the results or effects potentially causing the explanation.

is potentially a result of either

Highlights possible results or effects leading to a specific outcome or explanation.

is perhaps attributable to either

Adds a layer of uncertainty while suggesting possible causes.

is conceivably linked to either

Suggests a plausible connection, though not definitive.

can potentially arise from either

Emphasizes the potential for the explanation to come from different sources.

FAQs

How can I use "may either be explained" in a sentence?

Use "may either be explained" to introduce two possible reasons or causes for something. For instance, "The project's delay may either be explained by unforeseen technical difficulties or by a lack of adequate resources."

What are some alternatives to using "may either be explained"?

Alternatives include phrases like "can be attributed to either", "could be due to either", or "might stem from either", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between saying "may either be explained by" and "can be explained by"?

"May either be explained by" suggests two possibilities, while "can be explained by" offers a general explanation without specifying alternatives. The former is more specific and presents distinct potential causes.

When is it best to use "may either be explained" in writing?

It is best to use "may either be explained" when you want to present two plausible explanations for a phenomenon, event, or situation, especially in analytical or investigative writing.