may therefore

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may therefore" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a conclusion or inference drawn from previously stated information. Example: "The results of the study were inconclusive; we may therefore need to conduct further research to validate our findings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Winning client trust may therefore take time.

The New York Times

It may therefore pay to specialise.

The Guardian

The brain may, therefore, favour stability over plasticity.

The Guardian

Trump may therefore choose not to reverse the new sanctions.

The Guardian

"Music shops may therefore be associated with strong nostalgic memories".

The Guardian - Business

Writing teachers may therefore cultivate their own legends.

The New Yorker

Cage may therefore drop points on the authenticity meter.

The Guardian - Film

The BBC may therefore have to look further afield.

The Guardian

Mr Rajapaksa's target may therefore be unfeasible.

The Economist

Their pitch may therefore have to depend rather more on the experience that they offer.

The Guardian - Film

It may therefore be prudent to give intuition and emotions due consideration when developing internationalisation strategies.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may therefore" to clearly indicate that a statement is a logical consequence of previous information. This helps create a smooth and understandable flow of thought in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "may therefore" when the connection between ideas is overly obvious. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose or even condescending.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may therefore" functions as an adverbial connector, linking ideas by indicating a potential consequence or inference. As Ludwig AI suggests, it signals a conclusion derived from preceding information. Its function is to show that something is likely or possible as a result of something else.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

31%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may therefore" is a versatile adverbial connector used to indicate a probable consequence or logical inference. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, particularly in science, news, and formal writing. While useful for creating a clear flow of thought, it should be used judiciously to avoid sounding verbose. Alternatives like "might therefore" or "consequently" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might therefore

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

could therefore

Substitutes "may" with "could", suggesting potential rather than certainty.

thus, it may

Inverts the structure, placing "thus" at the beginning for emphasis.

hence, it may

Replaces "therefore" with "hence", providing a more formal tone.

consequently, it may

Substitutes "therefore" with "consequently", indicating a direct result.

it follows that it may

Adds a more explicit connection to the preceding statement.

it can be inferred that it may

Emphasizes the inferential nature of the conclusion.

as a result, it may

Replaces "therefore" with "as a result", highlighting the cause-and-effect relationship.

it is plausible that it may

Highlights the plausibility of the result as a possible outcome.

it is possible that it may

Expresses the potential outcome with a focus on its possibility.

FAQs

How can I use "may therefore" in a sentence?

Use "may therefore" to show that something is a likely consequence or conclusion based on prior information. For instance, "The data is incomplete; we "may therefore" need to collect more samples."

What are some alternatives to "may therefore"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "might therefore", "could therefore", or "consequently".

Is it always appropriate to use "may therefore" in formal writing?

"May therefore" is generally suitable for formal writing, but ensure it isn't overused. Simpler conjunctions like "thus" or "hence" might be more appropriate in certain contexts to avoid sounding verbose.

What's the difference between "may therefore" and "is therefore"?

"May therefore" indicates a possibility or likelihood, whereas "is therefore" suggests a certainty. For example, "The evidence is suggestive; it "may therefore" be a factor" implies uncertainty, while "The evidence is conclusive; it "is therefore" a factor" indicates a definitive conclusion.