might have really

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "might have really" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a possibility or speculation about something that may have occurred in the past, often emphasizing the degree of certainty or intensity. Example: "She might have really enjoyed the concert if she had gone with us."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Are we still counting and recounting, and carping about who might have really won the election?

The New York Times

He also thought he might have really found the key to unlocking the Iron Curtain".

The New York Times

"Actually, I got so soaked today, I might have really been sick," she said on Monday.

The New York Times

"I think it's a stretch to think that little twitch of Blake might have really been responsible," Hersh said.

The New York Times - Sports

It might have been a waste of time and resources, but then he might have really needed it.

The Guardian

But what might have really changed Skelton's life is where he unexpectedly ranked on an NFL.com list this summer.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

"New York might never have really great ramen, just like Tokyo might never have really great pizza," said David Chang, the Korean-American chef, trained at Craft and now the owner of Momofuku.

The New York Times

An angel choir might not have really broken out that day above the bullpen mounds in Kissimmee, Fla., but it sure seemed that way to Robinson.

The New York Times - Sports

Thus I discovered that even a writer whom I greatly admired, as I did Miller, might sometimes have really terrible lapses of taste.

The New Yorker

Baldessari himself has said, "You can't teach art but it might help to have really good artists around".

Huffington Post

For example, some in the network groups stated that they had been involved in developing new models of care but implementation of these was a challenge: "You might have a really good project, a really strong project, lots of clinical input, very strong recommendations, but those recommendations aren't taken up by the Department of Health".

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "might have really" to express a strong possibility or likelihood of something that occurred in the past. It adds emphasis to the potential truth or impact of the situation.

Common error

Avoid overusing "really" in your writing, as it can weaken the impact of your sentences. Consider stronger adverbs or revise the sentence for greater clarity and precision. For instance, instead of "might have really enjoyed", consider "might have thoroughly enjoyed".

Linguistic Context

Modal verb phrase indicating possibility with emphasis. It functions as a modal auxiliary expressing a past hypothetical event, strengthened by the adverb "really" to heighten the degree of likelihood. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

26%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "might have really" is a grammatically sound construction used to express a strong sense of possibility regarding past events. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across diverse contexts, including news, science, and general writing. While common, avoid overuse and consider alternatives like "might genuinely have" or "could have actually" to maintain writing impact. Remember, adding "really" enhances the likelihood, suggesting a more significant possibility. This phrase is considered to have a neutral register

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might genuinely have

Replaces "really" with "genuinely", suggesting a sincere or authentic possibility.

might seriously have

Substitutes "really" with "seriously", implying a grave or significant potential outcome.

could have actually

Replaces "might" with "could" and "really" with "actually", offering a similar level of possibility with a factual emphasis.

may well have

Offers a more formal alternative, emphasizing a strong likelihood.

might conceivably have

Adds a layer of possibility that is believable or imaginable.

may indeed have

Replaces "really" with "indeed", indicating a confirmed or certain possibility.

might in fact have

Emphasizes the reality or truth of the potential situation.

possibly could have

Combines "possibly" and "could" to soften the assertion, suggesting a weaker likelihood.

might just have

Emphasizes the ease or simplicity of the possibility.

potentially could have

Suggests that there was a chance that something might happen or exist.

FAQs

How can I use "might have really" in a sentence?

The phrase "might have really" is used to express a possibility with emphasis. For example, "She might have really appreciated the gift" suggests a strong likelihood of her appreciation.

What are some alternatives to "might have really"?

You can use alternatives like "might genuinely have", "could have actually", or "may well have" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "might have really"?

Yes, "might have really" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express a possibility with added emphasis. However, ensure the context warrants the added intensity.

What's the difference between "might have" and "might have really"?

The addition of "really" strengthens the sense of possibility or likelihood. "Might have" simply suggests a possibility, while "might have really" suggests a more significant or impactful possibility.