may not come

USAGE SUMMARY

"may not come" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to indicate uncertainty about a future event. Example sentence: We are not sure if our guests will make it to the party, they may not come.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The end may not come until May or June, but it will come.

The New York Times

It may not come immediately.

The Economist

Insight may not come immediately.

The Economist

He may not come.

The New York Times

A resolution may not come for months.

The New York Times - Sports

"They just may not come back".

The New York Times - Arts

Such returns may not come back.

The Economist

"That may not come to pass.

The New York Times

That may not come in time.

The New York Times

Forgiveness may not come immediately.

University of California, Berkeley

These insights may not come easily.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "may not come", ensure the context clearly indicates what or who is not coming and the reason for the uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "may not come" interchangeably with phrases that express a stronger degree of impossibility. "Will not come" indicates certainty, while "may not come" expresses possibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may not come" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a possibility or uncertainty regarding a future event. It indicates that something is possible but not certain to happen. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may not come" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express uncertainty about a future event. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase functions as a modal verb phrase conveying a possibility that something will not happen. It's appropriate for a variety of contexts, from news reports and academic papers to everyday conversations. While "may not come" is widely accepted, it's important to differentiate it from phrases expressing a stronger degree of certainty, such as "will not come". By using "may not come" accurately, you can effectively communicate doubt or uncertainty in your writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might not arrive

Replaces "come" with "arrive", slightly shifting the focus to the action of reaching a destination.

might not happen

Substitutes the specific action of "coming" with the more general term "happen", broadening the scope of the uncertainty.

could fail to appear

Uses a more formal tone with "fail to appear", implying a potential absence or non-occurrence.

is unlikely to occur

Expresses a low probability of something happening, rather than simply stating uncertainty.

is possibly canceled

Suggests a potential cancellation or termination of a planned event or action.

is not guaranteed to materialize

Emphasizes the lack of certainty about something becoming a reality, using a more formal and emphatic tone.

is up in the air

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate that the outcome is uncertain and undecided.

remains uncertain

Focuses on the state of uncertainty surrounding a future event or outcome.

is still pending

Suggests that a decision or event is awaiting resolution and may not occur.

is subject to change

Indicates that a plan or arrangement is not final and may be altered or not happen at all.

FAQs

How can I use "may not come" in a sentence?

You can use "may not come" to express uncertainty about a future event. For example: "The package "may not come" until next week".

What's a more formal alternative to "may not come"?

A more formal alternative could be "is unlikely to occur" or "is not guaranteed to materialize", depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "may not come" to sound more certain?

If you want to express more certainty, you could say "will not come" or "is canceled".

Is "might not come" the same as "may not come"?

Yes, "might not come" and "may not come" are very similar in meaning. Both express a possibility that something will not happen, but "might" can sometimes suggest a slightly lower probability.