may not be

USAGE SUMMARY

"may not be" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
It is an auxiliary verb used to express possibility or impossibility. For example: "The outcome of the election may not be known for several days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Reference

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They may not be.

The New York Times

There may not be.

The New York Times

It may not be.

The New York Times

It may not be pretty.

The New York Times - Sports

But they may not be.

The Economist

This may not be easy.

The Economist

This may not be much.

The Economist

That may not be enough.

The New York Times

It may not be that.

The Economist

Actually, it may not be.

The New York Times

It may not be productive.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may not be" to express uncertainty or possibility when you want to avoid making a definitive statement. It is useful when discussing potential outcomes or speculative scenarios.

Common error

Be careful not to use "may not be" when you mean something is definitively impossible. "May not be" indicates a possibility, while "cannot be" expresses certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may not be" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase expressing epistemic possibility or uncertainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates that something is possibly not the case. Examples from Ludwig show its versatility in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "may not be" is a versatile tool for expressing possibility and uncertainty. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically sound and widely accepted. With a "very common" frequency across various sources, including News & Media and scientific publications, it serves as a valuable means of softening claims and avoiding definitive statements. While alternatives like "might not be" and "could not be" exist, "may not be" remains a reliable and neutral choice for conveying doubt or speculation. Remember, however, to avoid using it when you mean to express complete impossibility; in such cases, "cannot be" is more appropriate. The examples provided by Ludwig further illustrate its adaptability in diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might not be

Replaces "may" with "might", offering a slightly weaker degree of possibility.

could not be

Substitutes "may" with "could", suggesting a potential but not definite outcome.

it is possible that it is not

Expands the phrase into a full sentence expressing possibility of negation.

it's unlikely to be

Replaces the modal verb with an adjective describing the probability.

it's doubtful that it is

Expresses a stronger sense of uncertainty or disbelief.

it cannot be

Conveys impossibility rather than possibility.

it is not necessarily

Indicates that something is not always the case.

is potentially not

Uses "potentially" to express a possibility of negation.

is perhaps not

Implies uncertainty using the adverb "perhaps".

it's not guaranteed to be

Highlights the lack of certainty or assurance.

FAQs

How to use "may not be" in a sentence?

Use "may not be" to indicate uncertainty or a possibility. For example, "The information presented "may not be" accurate" suggests that the accuracy of the information is questionable.

What can I say instead of "may not be"?

You can use alternatives like "might not be", "could not be", or "is perhaps not" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "may not be" or "might not be"?

Both ""may not be"" and "might not be" are grammatically correct and express possibility. The choice between them often depends on the degree of uncertainty you want to convey; "might" often suggests a slightly lower probability than "may".

What's the difference between "may not be" and "cannot be"?

"May not be" indicates a possibility or uncertainty, suggesting that something is possibly not the case. "Cannot be", on the other hand, indicates impossibility, meaning something is definitely not the case.