may suffer from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may suffer from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something has the potential to experience a negative condition or issue. Example: "Patients may suffer from anxiety if they do not receive proper treatment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, the common CR may suffer from a few shortcomings.

Geoderma

The bottom of the elbow may suffer from enhanced corrosion.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

LEXUS Some models may suffer from rattling steering columns.

The New York Times

For sure, individual companies may suffer from Chinese retaliation.

The New York Times

"You may suffer from depression or anxiety and not even know it," says Dr. Salamon.

Harvard University

Results: Analyses and conclusions based solely on aggregated data may suffer from ecological bias.

Harvard University

Companies who fail to change with these new technologies may suffer from smaller, nimbler competitors.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

If you claim to own an event, you may suffer from group think".

The Guardian - Books

Postwar buildings, on the other hand, frequently share common ventilation and may suffer from sloppy construction.

The New York Times

"It looks like she may suffer from asthma, but the M.E.

The New York Times

But some people may suffer from complications, such as sinusitis and ear infections.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about potential negative outcomes, consider using "may suffer from" to clearly indicate the possibility of adverse effects without stating them as certainties. This approach is useful in scientific, medical, and general contexts where caution and accuracy are paramount.

Common error

Avoid using "will suffer from" when the outcome is not guaranteed. "Will" implies certainty, while "may suffer from" acknowledges the possibility without making a definitive prediction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may suffer from" functions as a modal verb phrase, expressing a possibility or potentiality. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is commonly used to indicate that someone or something could experience a negative condition or issue. Examples include: "Companies who fail to change with these new technologies may suffer from smaller, nimbler competitors."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

37%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may suffer from" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for indicating a potential negative outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys possibility without asserting certainty. Its prevalence across diverse fields like science, news, and academia underscores its versatility. While alternatives such as "might experience" or "could be affected by" exist, "may suffer from" remains a robust choice for expressing potential adversity. It's important to avoid overstating certainty by using "will" instead of "may" when the outcome is not guaranteed. The phrase's function is to express potentiality, its purpose is to caution or inform, and its register is primarily neutral to formal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might experience

Replaces "may" with "might", indicating a slightly lower probability.

could be affected by

Uses a passive construction to highlight the potential impact.

is at risk of

Emphasizes the vulnerability to a negative outcome.

is susceptible to

Highlights a predisposition or vulnerability.

potentially develop

Focuses on the possibility of a condition arising.

run the risk of

Implies a conscious or unconscious acceptance of potential harm.

face the possibility of

Acknowledges the chance of encountering something negative.

are prone to

Indicates a natural inclination or tendency toward something negative.

are vulnerable to

Stresses the lack of protection against a specific threat.

there is a chance of developing

Emphasizes uncertainty in the development of a condition.

FAQs

How to use "may suffer from" in a sentence?

Use "may suffer from" to indicate a possibility of experiencing a negative condition or consequence. For example, "Patients "may suffer from" anxiety if they do not receive proper treatment".

What can I say instead of "may suffer from"?

You can use alternatives like "might experience", "could be affected by", or "is at risk of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "may suffer from" or "will suffer from"?

"May suffer from" indicates a possibility, while "will suffer from" implies certainty. Use "may" when the outcome is not guaranteed and "will" when it is definite.

What's the difference between "may suffer from" and "might suffer from"?

Both "may suffer from" and "might suffer from" express possibility. "May" suggests a slightly higher probability than "might", but the difference is often negligible.