may soon be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may soon be" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a possibility or likelihood of something happening in the near future. Example: "The new policy may soon be implemented if the board approves it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These may soon be amplified.

The Guardian

Washington may soon be home.

The New York Times

And those days may soon be gone.

The New York Times

But that loophole may soon be closed.

The Economist

A settlement may soon be reached.

The Economist

His memory may soon be jogged.

The New York Times

Even earlier diagnoses may soon be possible.

The Economist

The party may soon be ending.

The New York Times

Even that may soon be outdated.

The New York Times

That belief may soon be tested.

The New York Times

Happily, I may soon be proven wrong.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may soon be" to indicate a plausible future event, but consider stronger alternatives if the event is highly probable. For instance, "is likely to be" conveys greater certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "may soon be" when the context suggests a near certainty. Overuse dilutes the phrase's impact and might mislead your audience. Instead of saying something like "The sun may soon be rising" at 6 AM, consider something like "The sun will rise soon".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may soon be" functions as a modal phrase indicating a future possibility or likelihood. It combines the modal verb "may", suggesting possibility, with the adverb "soon", indicating proximity in time, and the auxiliary verb "be", setting the stage for a following verb or adjective. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may soon be" serves as a versatile tool for expressing near-future possibilities across diverse contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While it is prevalent in news and media, also sees use in scientific and formal business settings. When writing, it's advisable to reserve "may soon be" for situations where genuine uncertainty exists and to select stronger alternatives, such as "is likely to be", when communicating greater confidence. While predominantly neutral in tone, the specific context will further define the phrase's impact, and Ludwig's numerous examples offer great support and understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could soon be

Substitutes "may" with "could", expressing possibility but with slightly less certainty.

might soon be

Replaces "may" with "might", indicating a possibility that is less certain or definite.

is likely to be

Replaces "may" with a stronger term indicating probability, maintaining similar structure.

is expected to be

Indicates anticipation or prediction about a future state, more formal than "may".

is poised to be

Suggests readiness and potential, implying favorable conditions for future occurrence.

will probably be

Uses "probably" to convey a high degree of likelihood, making it more direct.

is anticipated to be

Similar to "is expected to be" but slightly more formal and emphasizes expectation.

is on track to be

Indicates progress towards a certain outcome, suggesting a planned or predictable development.

is projected to be

Implies a forecast or prediction based on data, common in analytical contexts.

will shortly be

Replaces "may" with "will" expressing a greater confidence and replaces "soon" with shortly for emphasis on the timing.

FAQs

How to use "may soon be" in a sentence?

Use "may soon be" to indicate that something is likely to happen in the near future. For example, "The new regulations "may soon be" implemented" suggests a high probability of implementation.

What can I say instead of "may soon be"?

You can use alternatives like "is likely to be", "is expected to be", or "could soon be" depending on the context and the degree of certainty you want to convey.

Which is correct, "may soon be" or "will soon be"?

"May soon be" indicates a possibility, while "will soon be" expresses a higher degree of certainty. The choice depends on how confident you are about the event occurring.

What's the difference between "may soon be" and "might soon be"?

Both "may soon be" and "might soon be" express possibility, but "might soon be" suggests a slightly lower probability than "may soon be".