might be late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "might be late" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing the possibility that someone or something will arrive late. For example, "I'm sorry, I might be late for the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

One parent might be late or perhaps even consistently late.

Huffington Post

"I might be late for work".

The New York Times - Arts

I might be late to get to school.

The New York Times

A patient phoned to say that she was sick and might be late.

The New York Times - Magazine

"The event might be late but you can't miss your start time.

The Guardian - Sport

They might be late for work, or worried about a debt.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

"Tomorrow might be too late".

The New Yorker

By then it might be too late.

The New York Times

It might be too late for that.

The New Yorker

He might be too late to stop a killing.

The New York Times - Arts

"But I guess that might be too late for BenJarvus".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When notifying someone that you "might be late", provide a specific estimated time of arrival if possible. This gives the other person a better understanding of the potential delay and allows them to plan accordingly.

Common error

Avoid repeatedly stating "I might be late" without explaining the reason or providing updates. Continuous, unexplained announcements can cause unnecessary anxiety and frustration for others. Instead, offer a brief explanation for the delay and keep others informed as the situation evolves.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "might be late" functions as a modal phrase, expressing possibility or uncertainty about arriving late. It uses the modal verb "might" to indicate a chance or likelihood, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "might be late" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the possibility of arriving later than expected. According to Ludwig, it appears frequently in various contexts, from news articles to casual conversations. Remember to provide context and updates when using this phrase to manage expectations effectively. While there are many ways to say it, "might be late" is a versatile and easily understood option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be delayed

Replaces "might" with "could", suggesting a possibility of delay.

may be delayed

Substitutes "might" with "may", indicating a possibility of lateness.

possibly delayed

Uses "possibly" to express a chance of being late.

conceivably delayed

Replaces "might be" with "conceivably", indicating a possibility.

potentially delayed

Uses "potentially" to suggest a chance of being late.

perhaps delayed

Replaces "might" with "perhaps", indicating uncertainty about timing.

it's possible to be delayed

Adds a layer of possibility to being late.

liable to be delayed

Expresses a tendency to be late.

expected to be delayed

Conveys an anticipation of being late.

foreseeably delayed

Suggests being late can be predicted.

FAQs

How can I use "might be late" in a sentence?

You can use "might be late" to express the possibility of arriving later than expected. For example, "I apologize, but I "I might be late" to the meeting due to traffic."

What's a more formal way to say "might be late"?

In a more formal context, consider using phrases like "expect to be delayed" or "anticipate a slight delay". For example, "I "expect to be delayed" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What can I say instead of "might be late" to soften the message?

To soften the message, you can use phrases like "running a little behind" or "may be slightly delayed". For example, "I'm "running a little behind" schedule but will arrive as soon as possible."

Is it better to say "might be late" or "will be late" if I'm unsure?

If you're unsure, "might be late" is more appropriate as it expresses uncertainty. "Will be late" implies a certainty of delay. If you are unsure, it's better to say "might be late".