this may very well be

USAGE SUMMARY

"this may very well be" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to express possibility or likelihood in a confident or certain manner. Example: "Based on the evidence we have, this may very well be the best solution to the problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This may very well be among the top 10 or 15 warmest Januaries".

The New York Times

This may very well be true, but most people still think fearfully about stocks.

The New York Times

In fact, this may very well be a case where the less you say, the more you accomplish.

The New Yorker

This may very well be the consequence, as young Ben McGrath argues, not of decreasing, but of ever increasing skills.

The New Yorker

This may very well be true but it doesn't really explain its marketing strategy that courts controversy in order to generate press coverage.

The Guardian - Opinion

This may very well be because of the improvement that relatives -- and friends -- observe in the daily lives of those who lose lots of weight, Dr. Kaul said.

The New York Times

A print ad ended with these words: "This may very well be the most serious crisis our nation has ever faced.

The New York Times

This may very well be the most important thing that has happened in the politics of the country since Richard Nixon moved into the White House.

The New York Times

Earlier this year, Vox's Timothy B. Lee charted the cryptocurrency's wild swings over the past three years and found signs that this may very well be the case.

The Washington Post

After viewing the classified materials, Mark Warner, of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said of the Russia investigation, "This may very well be the most important thing I do in my public life".

The New Yorker

"This may very well be the first true test of what bipartisanship means in the new Congress," said Michael Siegel, spokesman for Senator Max Baucus of Montana, the senior Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ this phrase when presenting a conclusion based on available evidence or logical reasoning, rather than pure speculation.

Common error

Avoid using "this may very well be" too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "this could be" or "it is likely" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this may very well be" functions as a modal expression, indicating a high degree of possibility or likelihood. Ludwig shows its frequent use in expressing a confident assertion based on available information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

15%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this may very well be" is a versatile phrase used to express a strong likelihood or possibility. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in reputable sources across news, academic, and scientific domains. While its neutral to professional register lends credibility to assertions, overuse should be avoided to maintain writing variety. By understanding its function, purpose, and suitable contexts, you can effectively incorporate "this may very well be" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this could very well be

Uses "could" instead of "may", indicating a slightly lower degree of certainty.

this might very well be

Employs "might" instead of "may", suggesting a similar level of possibility but potentially with more doubt.

this could easily be

Replaces "very well" with "easily", highlighting the ease with which the possibility could occur.

it is highly probable that this is

Uses a more formal and explicit expression of probability.

it is quite likely that this is

Similar to "highly probable" but slightly less formal.

there's a good chance this is

Offers a more informal way to express a strong possibility.

this is very likely to be

Rearranges the sentence structure to emphasize the likelihood.

this is probably

Shortens the phrase to a simple statement of probability, losing some of the original emphasis.

this is quite possibly

Focuses on possibility rather than likelihood.

one could argue this is

Introduces a degree of subjectivity or opinion.

FAQs

What does "this may very well be" mean?

The phrase "this may very well be" expresses a strong possibility or likelihood. It suggests that something is highly probable, based on the available information or evidence.

How can I use "this may very well be" in a sentence?

Use "this may very well be" when you want to confidently suggest a likely outcome or conclusion. For instance, "Given the current trends, this may very well be the turning point for the company".

What are some alternatives to "this may very well be"?

You can use alternatives such as "this could be", "it is likely", or "this might be" depending on the level of certainty you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "this may very well be"?

While grammatically correct, overusing "this may very well be" can make your writing sound repetitive. Consider using synonyms or rephrasing your sentences to maintain variety and engagement.