may well

USAGE SUMMARY

"may well" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea that something is likely or probable. For example, "It may well rain tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That may well be.

The New York Times

Bowen may well agree.

The New York Times

They may well succeed.

The New York Times

Arrears may well increase.

The Economist

One may well ask.

The New York Times - Arts

You may well agree.

The New York Times - Magazine

They may well fail.

The New York Times

They may well.

The Economist

This may well change.

The Economist

That may well change.

The Economist

It may well be.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may well" to express a reasonable degree of certainty about a future event or a present condition. It adds a nuance of informed prediction based on available evidence.

Common error

Avoid stringing multiple modal verbs together (e.g., "might could well"). Choose the single best modal verb or phrase to convey the intended degree of certainty or possibility.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "may well" is to express a strong possibility or likelihood. As supported by Ludwig, the phrase indicates a reasonable assumption based on available information or current circumstances.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may well" is a versatile modal verb phrase used to express a strong possibility or likelihood. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various communication styles. Alternative expressions include "might well", "likely to", and "probably", each carrying subtle nuances in meaning. To ensure clarity and avoid redundancy, be mindful of overusing modal verbs in conjunction with "may well".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might well

Slightly more tentative than "may well", indicating a possibility but with less certainty.

could well

Similar to "might well", suggesting a possibility that is not strongly probable.

likely to

Expresses a strong probability, often used in more formal contexts.

probably

A direct adverb indicating a high degree of likelihood.

conceivably

Indicates something is possible, though perhaps not particularly likely.

possibly

Similar to "conceivably", but may suggest a slightly higher degree of likelihood.

it is plausible that

A more formal way of expressing possibility, often used in academic or professional contexts.

it is probable that

Indicates a high degree of likelihood, similar to "likely to".

chances are

An informal way of saying something is likely to happen.

it could be

Expresses a possibility without indicating a strong likelihood.

FAQs

How to use "may well" in a sentence?

Use "may well" to express a strong possibility or likelihood. For example, "Given the evidence, she "may well" win the election".

What can I say instead of "may well"?

You can use alternatives like "likely to", "probably", or "might well", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "may well" or "might well"?

Both "may well" and "might well" are correct, but "may well" indicates a slightly higher degree of probability than "might well".

What's the difference between "may well" and "could well"?

"May well" suggests a stronger likelihood based on current evidence, while "could well" implies a possibility that is less certain.