potentially could be

USAGE SUMMARY

"potentially could be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a situation that could become true in the future. For example, "This new policy potentially could be very effective."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 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

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

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

The New York Times - Tech

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

The Guardian - Business

Everything and anything drawn on that poster potentially could be interpreted as music.

The Guardian - Music

"The airlines have figured out that where you sit potentially could be worth different things to different people".

The New York Times

It was unclear how the Army would calculate interest, but the payments potentially could be tens of thousands of dollars.

The New York Times

Tennessee "potentially could be in play," Mr. Oppenheimer said, "but a lot of other states might come before it".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "potentially could be" to express a future possibility, but consider stronger alternatives like "might be" or "could be" to avoid redundancy. Although correct, overuse may make your writing sound less concise.

Common error

The phrase "potentially could be" includes both "potentially" and "could", which both indicate possibility. To avoid redundancy, consider using just "could be" or "might be" for a more direct statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "potentially could be" functions as a modal verb phrase used to express possibility or potential in a future event or situation. Ludwig provides several examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

41%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "potentially could be" is a grammatically correct modal verb phrase used to express possibility. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it is crucial to consider its nuanced usage and potential redundancy. Though prevalent in News & Media and Science contexts, as shown by Ludwig's examples, it's advisable to sometimes opt for more concise alternatives such as "could be" or "might be", especially in formal writing. Understanding the subtle differences between "potentially could be" and its related phrases ensures clarity and precision in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

potentially could become

Replaces "be" with "become", emphasizing a transition or development over time.

theoretically could be

Replaces "potentially" with "theoretically", emphasizing a possibility based on theory rather than practical likelihood.

hypothetically could be

Substitutes "potentially" with "hypothetically", indicating a possibility within a hypothetical scenario.

presumably could be

Substitutes "potentially" with "presumably", implying an assumption based on some evidence but not definitive proof.

arguably could be

Replaces "potentially" with "arguably", indicating that the possibility is debatable or subject to opinion.

maybe could be

Replaces "potentially" with "maybe", suggesting a higher degree of uncertainty.

perhaps could be

Uses "perhaps" instead of "potentially", conveying a slightly more tentative possibility.

likely could be

Uses "likely" instead of "potentially", suggesting a higher probability of the possibility.

probably could be

Replaces "potentially" with "probably", suggesting a higher degree of certainty.

eventually could be

Replaces "potentially" with "eventually", focusing on a possibility that might materialize in the future.

FAQs

How can I use "potentially could be" in a sentence?

You can use "potentially could be" to describe something that has a chance of happening or becoming true in the future. For example: "This new approach "potentially could be" more effective than the previous one."

What are some alternatives to "potentially could be"?

Some alternatives include "might be", "could be", "may be", or "possibly be". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of certainty you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "potentially could be"?

Yes, because "potentially" and "could" both express possibility. Using just "could be" is often more concise and direct, but "potentially could be" isn't grammatically incorrect, though it might be considered stylistic redundant.

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

"Potentially could be" indicates a possibility, while "definitely will be" indicates certainty. Use ""potentially could be"" when you want to express that something might happen, and "definitely will be" when you are sure that it will happen.