may nonetheless be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may nonetheless be" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is possible or true despite other factors or conditions. Example: "The results may nonetheless be valid, even if the sample size was small."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Harm that no human being can repair may nonetheless be harm that God can repair.

SEP

He may nonetheless be right.

The New York Times - Arts

"People can appear superficially to be well but they may nonetheless be mentally disordered".

The Guardian

And then — it's almost a non sequitur — "Periods may nonetheless be omitted in most contexts.

The New Yorker

Yet the new government may nonetheless be paving the way for future reforms.

The Economist

But the market and economic impacts of two of the biggest American corporate failures in history may nonetheless be instructive.

The New York Times

As an academic issue, some schools are concerned that many students with good advanced placement scores may nonetheless be unprepared for high-level college work.

The New York Times

People who aren't sure about God may nonetheless be sure that religion is good for society and so encourage its spread.

The New Yorker

Under Supreme Court precedents, a suspension at other times may nonetheless be permissible as long as adequate alternate procedures exist for challenging a conviction or sentence.

The New York Times

A class of well-educated, ostensibly over-achieving Asian-Australians, who may nonetheless be permanently locked out from the ranks of their society's leadership.

The Guardian - Opinion

But even if the WFP has been misled into giving an inflated estimate of the dangers, "food aid may nonetheless be warranted".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may nonetheless be" to introduce a point that is true or possible despite a preceding statement that suggests otherwise. This conveys a sense of concession and nuanced understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "may nonetheless be" in simple sentences where a more direct conjunction like "but" or "yet" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound overly formal or convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may nonetheless be" functions as a modal hedge and transitional phrase. It acknowledges a potential counterargument or limitation while still asserting a possibility or truth. Ludwig AI indicates correct usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "may nonetheless be" is a valuable tool for expressing nuanced ideas, acknowledging potential counterarguments while affirming a possibility or truth. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse contexts. While generally suited for formal writing, it's important to avoid overuse in simple sentences where a more direct conjunction would suffice. By understanding its function and purpose, you can effectively use "may nonetheless be" to convey concession, complexity, and nuanced understanding in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might still be

Replaces "may" with "might" and "nonetheless" with "still", softening the tone while maintaining the core meaning of possibility despite something else.

could nevertheless be

Substitutes "may" with "could" and "nonetheless" with "nevertheless", offering a slightly more formal alternative with similar concessive force.

might however be

Replaces "nonetheless" with "however", providing a more direct and less emphatic contrast.

may however still be

Combines "however" and "still" to soften the contrast and emphasize continued possibility.

can still be

Emphasizes possibility by using "can" and "still", but removes the explicit concessive element.

may even be

Replaces "nonetheless" with "even", suggesting a surprising or unexpected possibility.

could actually be

Uses "actually" to highlight the reality or truth of the possibility, adding a sense of confirmation.

may in fact be

Emphasizes the reality of the possibility using "in fact", adding a formal tone.

may surprisingly be

Adds an element of surprise to the possibility, highlighting its unexpected nature.

may conceivably be

Uses "conceivably" to indicate that the possibility is imaginable or believable, though perhaps unlikely.

FAQs

How can I use "may nonetheless be" in a sentence?

Use "may nonetheless be" to introduce a contrasting idea that is still possible or valid despite a previous statement. For example, "The data is limited, but the findings "may nonetheless be" significant."

What are some alternatives to "may nonetheless be"?

Alternatives include "might still be", "could nevertheless be", or "might however be", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "may nonetheless be" and "may still be"?

"May still be" simply indicates a continuing possibility, while "may nonetheless be" introduces a possibility that exists despite a conflicting factor or expectation. "May still be" is less emphatic than "may nonetheless be".

Can I use "may nonetheless be" in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "may nonetheless be" is generally more suited for formal or academic writing. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "but it may be" or "even so it could be" are often more appropriate.