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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
this may caused
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase 'this may caused' is not correct.
The correct form of this phrase is 'this may cause'. You can use this phrase when you want to express that a certain action has the potential to result in a certain result. For example, "Turning off the lights when not in use may cause energy bills to be lower."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Alternative expressions(4)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
60 human-written examples
This may be supE44.
Academia
In the area CA1, this may be 100,000 let's say this is 100,000 neurons.
This may take 24 to 48 hours.
This may take 2 to 5 submissions.
Academia
This may be 1 to 2 km wide.
Encyclopedias
This may take 6 to 12 hours.
Wiki
This may take 20 to 40 minutes.
Wiki
This may take 1 to 3 weeks.
Wiki
This may indicate G217B yeasts may survive the phagocyte oxidative burst better than G186A yeasts.
Science
This may take 4-5 months under temperate conditions but the experience in Rwanda has been that 2-2.5 months is enough.
This may cost £60 just for the consultation plus the price of the pen.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When indicating a potential cause, ensure you use the correct verb tense. "May" should be followed by the base form of the verb (e.g., "this may cause") or "may have" followed by the past participle (e.g., "this may have caused").
Common error
Avoid using the past tense of a verb directly after "may". Remember that "may" is a modal verb and should be followed by the base form of the verb, or "may have" + past participle for past possibilities.
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "this may caused" is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are "this may cause" (indicating a potential future action) or "this may have caused" (referring to a potential cause in the past). Ludwig AI indicates that "this may caused" is not a correct phrase.
Frequent in
Science
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News & Media
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Formal & Business
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Less common in
Science
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News & Media
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Formal & Business
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Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "this may caused" is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are "this may cause" or "this may have caused", depending on the intended meaning. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. Since the query is flawed, there are no authoritative sources using it. When writing, ensure correct verb tense and form after modal verbs like "may" to avoid grammatical errors.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
this may cause
Corrects the grammar by using the base form of the verb "cause", indicating a potential future outcome.
this might cause
Substitutes "may" with "might" for a similar meaning, while retaining correct grammar.
this could cause
Uses "could" to express a possible cause, maintaining grammatical accuracy.
this might have caused
Uses "might have caused" to indicate a possibility in the past, correcting the tense issue.
this could have caused
Replaces "may" with "could" and corrects the tense, expressing a past possibility.
this potentially caused
Employs "potentially caused" to convey a past possibility, with a single word replacement.
this may have resulted in
Rephrases to indicate a potential result instead of a direct cause.
this possibly led to
Uses "possibly led to" to suggest a potential consequence or outcome.
this could be the reason for
Changes the structure to focus on providing a potential reason.
the reason for this may be
Inverts the sentence to explore a potential reason, shifting the emphasis.
FAQs
What is the correct way to use "may" to indicate a potential cause?
Use "may" followed by the base form of the verb (e.g., "this may cause") to indicate a potential future outcome. For past possibilities, use "may have" followed by the past participle (e.g., "this may have caused").
How can I correct the phrase "this may caused"?
The correct phrase is "this may cause" to indicate a present or future possibility or "this may have caused" to refer to a past possibility.
What are some alternatives to "this may cause"?
You can use alternatives like "this might cause", "this could cause", or "this potentially causes" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.
Which is correct, "this may cause" or "this may caused"?
"This may cause" is correct. "This may caused" is grammatically incorrect because "may" requires the base form of the verb or "may have" + past participle.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested