may never

USAGE SUMMARY

'may never' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express an unrealized possibility or a negative prediction. Example: The damage to the environment may never be reversed.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some may never succeed.

The Economist

Slahi may never escape.

The New Yorker

It may never return.

The New York Times - Sports

They may never come.

The Economist

Outsiders may never know.

The Economist

Some may never be.

The Economist

It may never happen.

The New York Times

They may never leave.

The New Yorker

Fans may never know.

The New York Times

Alas, we may never know.

The Economist

That may never happen.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "may never", consider the context and ensure it accurately reflects the level of uncertainty or possibility you wish to convey. It suggests a stronger degree of improbability than "may not".

Common error

Avoid using "may never" when a situation is simply unlikely but still has a reasonable chance of occurring. "May not" or "unlikely to" might be more appropriate if there remains a tangible possibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may never" functions as a modal phrase expressing possibility or likelihood, often indicating a negative prediction or uncertainty about a future event. As Ludwig AI suggests, it conveys an unrealized possibility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may never" is a versatile modal phrase used to express a degree of uncertainty about a future event, often with a negative connotation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, highlighting its role in expressing unrealized possibilities. Analysis of numerous examples reveals it's most frequently employed in news and media, indicating doubt or pessimism across various domains. While generally neutral in tone, writers should be mindful of overstating certainty and consider more nuanced alternatives when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is unlikely to

Replaces the modal "may" with "is unlikely" offering a different expression of probability.

will probably not

Uses "will probably not" to indicate a forecast with a degree of uncertainty.

is not expected to

Changes the modal verb to a passive expectation, altering the tone.

is doubtful that

Introduces doubt about a future event, modifying the assertion.

it's improbable that

Replaces "may never" with an assessment of improbability.

it's not possible to

Emphasizes impossibility, changing the modal assessment.

cannot happen

Expresses the idea that an event cannot occur, indicating impossibility.

has no chance of

Indicates a lack of opportunity or possibility.

is out of the question

Emphasizes that something is not even worth considering.

won't ever

A more informal way of saying something will never happen.

FAQs

How does "may never" differ from "will never"?

"May never" indicates a possibility that something will not happen, while "will never" suggests a higher degree of certainty. "May never" implies uncertainty, whereas "will never" implies a definite outcome.

What are some alternatives to "may never"?

You can use alternatives like "is unlikely to", "probably won't", or "is not expected to" depending on the context and the degree of certainty you want to convey.

Is it more formal to use "may never" or "will never"?

Both "may never" and "will never" are generally suitable for formal writing, although "will never" conveys stronger conviction, it doesn't change the formality of the expression.

How to use "may never" in a sentence?

"May never" is used before the main verb to express a possibility that something will not happen. For example, "The economy "may never recover" from this crisis".