may have miscalculated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may have miscalculated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence to express uncertainty or possibility that someone has incorrectly calculated something in the past. Example: "I may have miscalculated the budget for this project, so let me double check my calculations before presenting it to the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

It may have miscalculated on May 1st, since it is now the federal authorities' number-one target.

The Economist

Luhrmann may have miscalculated.

The New Yorker

THE Americans may have miscalculated.

The Economist

If so, it may have miscalculated.

The Economist

But Mr Netanyahu may have miscalculated.

The Guardian - Opinion

But in other respects IS may have miscalculated.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Several upstate county governments may also have miscalculated.

The New York Times

Mr. Lieberman said that the defense team may also have miscalculated by bringing in celebrities to support Ms. Stewart.

The New York Times

Alternatively, he may simply have miscalculated, believing that the FBU would eventually drop its opposition to modernisation, thus leaving the way open to a fudged pay deal.

The Economist

But Serbs and diplomats who have followed Mr. Milosevic during his decade in power say that with his deepening isolation at home and abroad, he may simply have miscalculated.

The New York Times

The anti-government zealots who picked this fight may well have miscalculated; at the moment their strategy looks like a failure.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may have miscalculated" to express uncertainty about a past misjudgment. It's suitable when you want to suggest a possibility without stating it as a definite fact.

Common error

While acceptable, relying too heavily on "may have miscalculated" in professional contexts can weaken the argument. Balance it with stronger statements supported by evidence where possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may have miscalculated" functions as a modal phrase expressing a possibility or speculation regarding a past miscalculation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it suggests uncertainty rather than a definitive statement of error. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

99%

Formal & Business

0.5%

Science

0.5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "may have miscalculated" is a versatile expression used to indicate the possibility of a past error in judgment or calculation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in News & Media. The phrase functions to soften statements and avoid direct accusations. When writing, remember that using it in professional reports should be balanced with factual support. Semantically related alternatives include "might have underestimated" or "perhaps misjudged". The prevalence of "may have miscalculated" across authoritative sources highlights its importance for writers aiming for balanced and nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perhaps misjudged

Indicates a mistake in forming an opinion or evaluation.

it appears they miscalculated the consequences

Specifically points to a misjudgment of the potential outcomes.

might have underestimated

Suggests a failure to appreciate the full extent or potential of something.

they appear to have been mistaken

Indicates a seemingly clear error in someone's perception or understanding.

could have overestimated

Implies an inflated assessment, leading to incorrect conclusions.

potentially erred in their assessment

A more formal way of saying someone made a mistake in their judgment.

conceivably made an error in judgment

Suggests a possibility of a mistake in decision-making.

it's possible they were wrong in their calculations

Highlights the uncertainty around the accuracy of calculations.

it seems they were off in their estimation

Implies that someone's estimate was inaccurate or incorrect.

they seem to have gotten it wrong

A more informal way of saying that someone made a mistake.

FAQs

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

You can use "may have miscalculated" to express the possibility of a past misjudgment. For example, "The company "may have miscalculated" the market demand for the new product".

What are some alternatives to "may have miscalculated"?

You can use alternatives like "might have underestimated", "perhaps misjudged", or "could have overestimated" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "may have miscalculated" grammatically correct?

Yes, "may have miscalculated" is grammatically correct. It uses the modal verb "may" to express possibility, "have" to indicate past tense, and "miscalculated" as the past participle of the verb "miscalculate".

What's the difference between "may have miscalculated" and "miscalculated"?

"Miscalculated" implies a definite error in calculation, whereas "may have miscalculated" suggests a possibility or uncertainty about whether a miscalculation occurred. The former is a statement of fact, while the latter is a conjecture.