may not show

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may not show" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not guaranteed to be visible or evident, often in contexts involving uncertainty or conditions. Example: "The results of the experiment may not show the expected outcomes due to unforeseen variables."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She may not show up.

Independent

They may not show up.

The Washington Post

She may not show up at all.

The New York Times

The effects may not show up for several years.

The New York Times

And it may not show up at all.

The New York Times - Science

I may not show up for that game".

The New York Times - Sports

The new, shrunken metropolis may not show much improvement.

The Economist

They may not show their effects if you are addicted to it.

Harvard University

Although most students may not show symptoms of real alcoholics, they consume alcohol on regular basis.

Harvard University

But even with significant tectonic activity, some faults may not show any signs of seismicity.

University of California, Berkeley

Other terrestrial parameters related to average characteristics may not show 11-year sunspot cycles.

Advances in Space Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may not show" when indicating that an outcome or result is uncertain and not guaranteed to be visible or apparent. For example, "The initial tests may not show any signs of the disease."

Common error

Avoid using "may not show" when a stronger negation like "will not show" or "does not show" is more appropriate. "May not show" implies possibility, while the stronger negations indicate certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may not show" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a possibility or uncertainty about something being visible, evident, or apparent. Ludwig AI confirms this use with numerous examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may not show" is a versatile modal verb phrase used to express a possibility or uncertainty regarding the visibility or apparentness of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. While it's crucial to avoid substituting it with stronger negations when uncertainty is intended, "may not show" effectively conveys a measured degree of possibility. Its prevalence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Washington Post underscores its reliability in formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might not appear

Replaces "may" with "might", indicating a slightly weaker possibility and "show" with "appear", focusing on visibility.

might not be evident

Substitutes "show" with "be evident", highlighting the lack of clear indication or proof.

might not be visible

Replaces "show" with "be visible", emphasizing the lack of visual appearance.

could be unnoticeable

Shifts from possibility to potential, using "could" and emphasizing the lack of noticeability.

may not be obvious

Replaces "show" with "be obvious", focusing on the lack of clarity or ease of perception.

might remain unseen

Uses "unseen" to emphasize that something could remain hidden or not detected.

might not surface

Employs "surface" to suggest that something might not become known or apparent.

may not be detected

Focuses on the potential failure to find or identify something.

might fail to reveal

Replaces "show" with "reveal", highlighting the potential inability to disclose information.

could go unnoticed

Emphasizes that something could pass by without being observed or recognized.

FAQs

What does "may not show" mean?

The phrase "may not show" indicates that something is possible but not certain to be visible, evident, or apparent. It suggests uncertainty about whether a particular result or outcome will occur.

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

You can use alternatives like "might not appear", "might not be evident", or "could be unnoticeable" depending on the context.

Is "may not show" grammatically correct?

Yes, "may not show" is grammatically correct. The modal verb "may" is correctly used with the negative particle "not" and the base form of the verb "show".

When should I use "may not show" versus "does not show"?

"May not show" indicates a possibility that something won't be visible or apparent, while "does not show" indicates a certainty that something is not visible or apparent. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the level of certainty.