may not be right

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may not be right" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing uncertainty or doubt about the correctness of something. Example: "I believe the answer to the question may not be right, so I will double-check my calculations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But that may not be right.

The New Yorker

Although it may not be right away.

The New York Times

"This may not be right either.

The New York Times - Sports

He may or may not be right.

The New York Times - Science

It may not be right, but it is understandable.

University of California, Berkeley

It may not be right to rest him this summer".

The Guardian - Sport

Our summer place may not be right on the beach.

The New York Times

"Our worry is that it may not be right".

The New York Times

"But living longer may not be right for you".

The New Yorker

Colmean may or may not be right about the demographics.

The New Yorker

It may not be right, but it feels good.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may not be right" when you want to express a possibility that something is inaccurate or incorrect, without stating it as a definite fact. It's suitable for situations where you want to be cautious or diplomatic.

Common error

Avoid using "may not be right" excessively in your writing, as it can make you sound indecisive or unsure of your own statements. Balance it with more assertive language when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may not be right" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a possibility or uncertainty about the correctness or accuracy of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it suggests a degree of doubt without making a definitive statement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may not be right" is a common and grammatically correct way to express uncertainty or doubt about something's accuracy. Ludwig AI shows that it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academic settings. Alternatives such as "might be incorrect" or "could be wrong" can be used interchangeably. When writing, be mindful of overusing such hedging language, as it can diminish the strength of your statements. Use "may not be right" when you want to express a possibility of inaccuracy diplomatically, but balance it with more decisive language when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

may be incorrect

Directly replaces "right" with "incorrect", keeping the structure and meaning virtually identical.

may not be correct

Substitutes "right" with "correct" while maintaining the negative possibility.

might be incorrect

Suggests a possibility of being wrong, similar to the original phrase but uses "incorrect" instead of "right".

could be wrong

Expresses a possibility of error or inaccuracy, using "could" instead of "may".

might not be accurate

Replaces "right" with "accurate", maintaining the same meaning but with a slight shift in emphasis.

could be inaccurate

Similar to "might not be accurate", but uses "could" to express the possibility.

is possibly wrong

Changes the structure to state a possibility of being wrong directly.

might be off

Uses the idiom "off" to indicate a deviation from what is correct, offering a more informal alternative.

could be off

Similar to "might be off", but replaces the modal verb "might" with "could".

isn't necessarily true

Shifts the focus to the truth value of a statement, suggesting it might not hold.

FAQs

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

Use "may not be right" to express a possibility that something is inaccurate or questionable. For example, "The information he provided "may not be right", so we should verify it."

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

You can use alternatives like "might be incorrect", "could be wrong", or "may be inaccurate" depending on the context.

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

Both ""may not be right"" and "might not be right" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably to express a possibility or uncertainty.

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

"May not be right" suggests a possibility of being incorrect or inaccurate, whereas "is not right" states a definitive fact of being incorrect or wrong.