may have made

USAGE SUMMARY

"may have made" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase to talk about something that has happened previously and the speaker is not sure if it was the cause of the present state of things. For example: The broken window may have been made when the ball hit it last week.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Local elections on May 8th may have made things worse.

The Economist

That may have made the difference.

The New York Times

That may have made sense once.

The New York Times

She may have made up every word.

The Guardian

With Trump, he may have made another.

The Guardian - Tech

It may have made the strategic difference.

The New Yorker

I may have made a mistake.

The Guardian - Opinion

The teachers may have made city labor history.

The New York Times

Key staff may have made their own exit plans.

The Guardian - Business

Unseen forces may have made up your mind.

The Guardian - Film

Marois's victory may have made that argument even stronger.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "may have made", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" or "they" is referring to, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "may have made" when you are certain about the action and its consequences. Opt for stronger verbs to convey certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may have made" functions as a modal verb construction indicating a speculative or uncertain action in the past. It combines the modal verb 'may' (expressing possibility), the auxiliary verb 'have' (indicating past tense), and the past participle 'made' (the completed action). Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "may have made" is a common modal verb construction used to express uncertainty or speculation about a past action, suitable for various writing styles. It functions to indicate a possible, but not definite, cause or effect. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, "may have made" is grammatically correct and effective for conveying uncertainty. When using the phrase, make sure to be clear about the action and be careful not to use it when you are sure about the cause or effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might have brought about

Replaces "made" with "brought about", emphasizing the act of causing something to happen.

might have created

Replaces "made" with "created", implying a more active role in bringing something into existence.

may have given rise to

Highlights that something else started to exist as a consequence of something.

could have produced

Substitutes "made" with "produced", suggesting a more formal or manufactured outcome.

possibly resulted in

Shifts the focus to the consequence of the action, rather than the action itself.

perhaps generated

Replaces "made" with "generated", indicating the creation of something less tangible.

conceivably led to

Highlights the potential consequence or direction resulting from the action.

it's possible it fashioned

Uses "fashioned" instead of "made" for a more crafted or shaped result. Changes the sentence structure for emphasis.

it is plausible that it constructed

Replaces "made" with "constructed", indicating a more structured or built outcome. Introduces a higher degree of formality.

it is conceivable that it yielded

The verb "yielded" implies the action "may have made" could have produced some sort of result or harvest.

FAQs

How can I use "may have made" in a sentence?

The phrase "may have made" indicates a possibility or speculation about a past action. For example, "His decision "may have made" the situation worse" suggests his decision possibly worsened the situation.

What are some alternatives to "may have made"?

Alternatives include phrases like "might have created", "could have produced", or "possibly resulted in", each offering slight variations in meaning and emphasis.

When is it appropriate to use "may have made" versus "definitely made"?

"May have made" suggests uncertainty or speculation, while "definitely made" implies certainty. Use "may have made" when you are unsure about the cause or result. For example: "The rain "may have made" the roads slippery" vs. "The heavy rain definitely made the roads dangerous".

What's the difference between "may have made" and "could have made"?

Both "may have made" and "could have made" express possibility, but "could have made" often implies a potential or ability that wasn't necessarily realized. "May have made" suggests a possibility that something actually happened. For example: "He "may have made" a mistake" suggests it's possible he did, while "He could have made a mistake" suggests he had the potential to, whether he did or not.