may imagine that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may imagine that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing hypothetical situations or expressing what someone might think or believe. Example: "In a world of endless possibilities, one may imagine that anything is achievable with enough determination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

S/he may imagine that s/he has special connections to figures of importance or supernatural phenomena.

WikiHow

The reader may imagine that poor Brandreth was just being paid to be amusing and was short of material, and anyway, this was the Sunday Telegraph after all, and therefore no readers were likely to object to such nonsense - boys will be boys, even when they're grown up!

The Guardian

And more often than you may imagine, that's enough.

TechCrunch

However, given that it might be argued that the cognitive style developed during psychotherapy may differ according to the nature of the problem to be treated, one may imagine that recording from these four subjects might bias such cues.

Plosone

White-collar workers may imagine that they're safe, but that's wishful thinking.

The Washington Post

"You may imagine that this is not unpleasant," Dr. Englert said in an early morning news conference.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

This means the world is smaller than we may imagine and that who we are and what we do with who we are matters to others.

Huffington Post

It may be difficult to imagine that wealthy European nations could follow the tragic path to inflation and defaults seen for so long in Latin America.

The New York Times

At a time like this, when trust in financial markets is so scant, it may be hard to imagine that looting will ever be a problem again.

The New York Times

I imagine that may well have provided the impetus for the company discontinuing development.

TechCrunch

Though I imagine that may change as the ads take off.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may imagine that" when presenting a potential interpretation or viewpoint, especially when you want to suggest a degree of uncertainty or speculation.

Common error

Avoid using "may imagine that" when stating a known fact or making a direct assertion. This phrase is best suited for speculative or hypothetical scenarios. Use stronger verbs to indicate fact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may imagine that" functions as an epistemic modal expression, indicating possibility or speculation. It introduces a proposition that is being considered but not necessarily asserted as a fact. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may imagine that" serves to introduce a speculative or potential idea, indicating possibility rather than certainty. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Its usage spans diverse contexts, including news, science, and general writing, though it appears most frequently in news media. When using this phrase, it is crucial to ensure that it aligns with the intended degree of uncertainty and is not used when stating known facts. Alternatives like "might suppose that" or "could believe that" offer similar nuances depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might suppose that

Replaces "imagine" with "suppose", indicating a slightly more formal conjecture.

could believe that

Emphasizes the possibility of holding a certain belief or assumption.

might assume that

Suggests a presumption or acceptance of something as true without proof.

could conjecture that

Indicates a more speculative and less certain level of assumption.

one might surmise that

Uses "surmise" for a slightly more educated guess or inference.

it's conceivable that

Shifts the focus to the possibility itself, rather than the act of imagining.

it is plausible that

Highlights the believability or reasonableness of a particular idea.

it's possible that

States a simple possibility without implying a specific actor.

one can envision that

Uses "envision" to imply a more vivid or detailed mental picture.

perhaps it's the case that

Introduces a degree of uncertainty, softening the statement.

FAQs

How can I use "may imagine that" in a sentence?

The phrase "may imagine that" is used to express a possibility or supposition. For example, "One "may imagine that" the future will be very different from the present."

What phrases are similar to "may imagine that"?

Similar phrases include "might assume that", "could believe that", or "it is plausible that", all of which convey a degree of speculation or possibility.

Is "may imagine that" formal or informal?

The phrase "may imagine that" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It is suitable for both written and spoken English in many contexts.

Can I use "may imagine that" to state a fact?

No, it is best to avoid using "may imagine that" when stating a known fact. This phrase is used to express speculation, possibility or supposition rather than certainty.