may happen

USAGE SUMMARY

"may happen" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is most commonly used to express the possibility of something occurring in the future. Here is an example: "He hasn't responded yet, but his answer may happen soon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This may happen.

The Economist

This may happen eventually.

The Economist

Neither may happen soon.

The Economist

That may happen eventually.

The Economist

But it may happen.

The Economist

"That may happen.

The New York Times

That may happen quickly.

Independent

Some disruptions may happen intentionally.

Computers & Industrial Engineering

It may happen again.

The New York Times - Sports

But the opposite may happen.

The Economist

He knows it may happen".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing plans, use "may happen" to show the plans are subject to change and are not set in stone.

Common error

While acceptable, excessively using "may happen" in formal or scientific writing can make your statements seem less decisive. Consider stronger alternatives like "is likely to occur" or "is expected" to convey more confidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may happen" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing possibility or uncertainty regarding a future event. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is a common way to indicate that something could occur, but it's not definite. This aligns with the examples provided, where "may happen" introduces potential outcomes across various situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may happen" is a versatile modal verb phrase used to express possibility and uncertainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely employed. It is most frequently encountered in News & Media and Scientific contexts. While it's a useful phrase, remember to consider stronger alternatives like "is likely to occur" in formal writing to convey more confidence. When writing, use "may happen" to communicate plans that are subject to change. In less formal writing, consider alternatives such as "could occur" or "is possible" to avoid repetition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could occur

This alternative uses a different modal verb to suggest possibility.

it's a possibility

Nominalizes the idea of something happening.

is possible

Uses a more direct statement of possibility.

might transpire

Replaces "happen" with a more formal verb, "transpire", indicating a possibility.

is conceivable

Suggests something is imaginable or believable, thus possible.

it is plausible

Indicates that something is believable and therefore could happen.

could be the case

Indicates a potential situation or scenario.

it's on the cards

Uses an idiomatic expression to suggest something is likely to happen.

that is liable to occur

This alternative suggests something is likely to happen, often with negative connotations.

it is likely

Suggests a higher probability than "may happen".

FAQs

How can I use "may happen" in a sentence?

You can use "may happen" to express a possibility or uncertain event in the future. For example, "The meeting "may happen" tomorrow, but it's not confirmed yet."

What phrases are similar to "may happen"?

Alternatives to "may happen" include "could occur", "is possible", or "might transpire", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Which is correct, "may happen" or "might happen"?

Both "may happen" and "might happen" are grammatically correct and express possibility. "May" suggests a slightly higher probability than "might", but the difference is often negligible.

What's the difference between "may happen" and "will happen"?

"May happen" indicates a possibility, while "will happen" expresses certainty. Using "will" suggests a much stronger likelihood than using "may".