potentially could

USAGE SUMMARY

"potentially could" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You would use "potentially could" when the situation is uncertain, but there is an implied possibility. For example: "The new tax law potentially could decrease public funding for schools."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I think the game potentially could be ready.

The Guardian - Sport

And even very simple crime reporting potentially could be done".

Independent

Other conditions potentially could be treated by manipulating the microbiome.

The New York Times - Science

Longer periods between exercise sessions potentially could dull that enthusiasm.

The New York Times

The connection between clubs and shopping isn't as strong as it potentially could be".

The New York Times

A Dalek: Might seem hard, but potentially could be really really good.

The Guardian

Use of hashtags in these circumstances potentially could result in a damages claim.

The Guardian

Later, he said, they potentially could be added to AOL Instant Messenger, a free service.

The New York Times - Tech

"I potentially could have filled Europe with a lot of drugs.

The Guardian

"I think they potentially could turn up just about everywhere," Mr. Pike said.

The New York Times

"The impact potentially could be anything from nothing to a destruction of an engine".

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "potentially could" to express a possibility that depends on specific conditions or circumstances. This implies that the outcome is not certain, but there is a real chance of it happening.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "potentially could" can sometimes be seen as slightly redundant. Consider whether using just "could" or a stronger term like "likely" would make your writing more concise and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "potentially could" functions as a modal auxiliary, expressing possibility or potential. It combines the adverb "potentially", which modifies the degree of certainty, with the modal verb "could", indicating a conditional or hypothetical ability. As supported by Ludwig, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "potentially could" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express possibility or potential under certain conditions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's considered correct and widely used. While its frequency is very high across various contexts, particularly in news and scientific articles, it's important to be mindful of potential redundancy and consider more concise alternatives when appropriate. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for diverse writing styles. Ultimately, using "potentially could" effectively depends on the writer's intention to convey a nuanced sense of possibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

possibly could

Emphasizes the possibility using "possibly" before "could".

potentially may

Replaces "could" with "may", keeping the potential aspect but with a subtly different modal verb.

could conceivably

Inverts the order while maintaining a similar meaning, emphasizing the conceivability of the potential.

might potentially

Swaps "could" with "might", which is similar in meaning but implies a slightly weaker possibility.

possibly may

Directly expresses possibility, with "possibly" slightly intensifying the "may".

might possibly

Adds emphasis to the possibility, suggesting a slightly lower degree of certainty than "potentially could".

may perhaps

Similar to "might possibly", offering a nuanced expression of uncertainty and possibility.

potentially can

Substitutes "could" with "can", suggesting a theoretical possibility based on inherent capability.

conceivably might

Highlights the conceivability of an event, adding a layer of intellectual consideration.

might be able to

Indicates a capability to do something, combined with a degree of uncertainty.

FAQs

How to use "potentially could" in a sentence?

Use "potentially could" to indicate a possibility or potential outcome that is not guaranteed. For example, "Investing in renewable energy "potentially could" reduce carbon emissions".

What can I say instead of "potentially could"?

You can use alternatives like "possibly may", "might possibly", or "could conceivably" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "potentially could" or "potentially can"?

Both ""potentially could"" and "potentially can" are grammatically correct, but ""potentially could"" is more commonly used to express a hypothetical possibility, while "potentially can" suggests an inherent ability or capability.

What's the difference between "potentially could" and "likely will"?

"Potentially could" suggests a possibility that may or may not occur, depending on circumstances. "Likely will" indicates a higher degree of certainty or probability.