might have been Linked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "might have been Linked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a possibility or speculation about a past event or connection that may or may not have occurred. Example: "The sudden increase in sales might have been linked to the new marketing campaign we launched last month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

It was unclear today how those charges might have been linked to Erica's abduction.

The New York Times

Executives initially thought that the infection might have been linked to contamination at its plant in Greenville.

The New York Times

News reports had suggested that the destruction might have been linked to organized crime, but Mr. Domeneghetti dismissed the notion.

The New York Times

Hours after the bombings, Mr. Yudhoyono said the attacks might have been linked to the electoral campaign, and he gave details of threats made against him.

The New York Times

Spanair has described the malfunction as a minor glitch, but the report said the faulty gauge might have been linked to the failure of the cockpit alarm.

The New York Times

The minutes also reported that some committee members felt that less rapid consumer spending at that time might have been linked to lower stock prices.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Hill said there might have been "links that I have through the community that know of the young man and was trying to pursue him in my direction".

The New York Times - Sports

Many studies did not differentiate between SB and early neonatal mortality, which may have artificially increased or decreased the SB rates associated with the birth that caused the fistula, since these early neonatal deaths might also have been linked to the obstructed labor that caused the OF.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Amazon tells me that today is the official launch: the Echosim.io link that might have been used in the past outside the U.S. would have been linked to U.S., not localised, skills.

TechCrunch

A likely candidate might be BMP, which has been linked to mobility in other tissues during development.

eLife

Some Baggies fans might feel Mel was the cheap option, having been linked with some more well-known coaches, namely Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Malky Mackay; but his record at Betis against the backdrop of financial ruin, makes the Spaniard fully deserving of this chance.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "might have been linked" to express a tentative connection or possible relationship, acknowledging uncertainty. It's best when you want to express a possibility without stating it as a definitive fact.

Common error

Avoid using "might have been linked" when stronger evidence suggests a definitive connection. In such cases, use phrases like "was" or "is linked" to reflect the higher degree of certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "might have been linked" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a tentative or speculative connection between two entities or events. Ludwig provides examples that showcase this usage in various contexts, such as suggesting a potential cause-and-effect relationship or a possible association between different occurrences.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "might have been linked" serves as a cautious way to propose a connection, suggesting a possibility rather than a certainty. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in News & Media and Science contexts. The frequency of usage is categorized as common. To reiterate, use this phrase to express a tentative link, acknowledging uncertainty. Alternatives such as "could have been connected" or "may have been associated" can be used to convey similar meanings with subtle differences. Avoid using the phrase when a stronger, more definitive connection is warranted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could have been connected

Indicates a possibility of a connection in the past, similar to the original phrase but using "could" instead of "might".

may have been associated

Suggests a possible association or relationship, implying a weaker link than a direct connection.

could have been related

Expresses a potential relationship between two or more things, similar in meaning but using "related" instead of "linked".

might have been correlated

Suggests a statistical relationship or interdependence between variables.

might have stemmed from

Indicates a possible origin or cause, implying that one thing originated from another.

might have resulted from

Indicates that something could have been the cause for another thing.

could be attributed to

Expresses a possible cause or reason for something, suggesting that it can be explained by something else.

may be traced back to

Indicates the possibility of finding the origin or source of something in the past.

might be due to

Indicates that something happened because of something else.

might be ascribable to

A more formal and less common way of saying that something could be attributed to something else.

FAQs

How can I use "might have been Linked" in a sentence?

Use "might have been linked" to suggest a possible connection between two things, like "The increase in cases "might have been linked" to the recent outbreak".

What are some alternatives to "might have been Linked"?

Some alternatives include "could have been connected", "may have been associated", or "could have been related", each implying a slightly different nuance of possibility.

Is "might have been Linked" formal or informal?

"Might have been linked" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal settings might prefer alternatives like "may be ascribable to".

What's the difference between "might have been Linked" and "was Linked"?

"Might have been linked" suggests a possibility or uncertainty, while "was linked" implies a confirmed connection. Use "might" when the connection is not fully proven or is speculative.