this may well be

USAGE SUMMARY

"this may well be" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to express a feeling of confidence or assurance in something. For example, "This may well be the answer to our problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This may well be what his boss and political rival, Theresa May, was hoping would happen.

Vice

This may well be the lasting legacy of this decade.

The Guardian - Opinion

This may well be justified.

The Economist

This may well be the case.

The Economist

BEN MCGRATH: This may well be true.

The New Yorker

But this may well be impossible.

The Economist

This may well be true.

The New York Times - Books

This may well be unanswerable.

The Guardian - Tech

This may well be a goodbye".

The Guardian

All this may well be true.

The Guardian - Opinion

This may well be Romney's biggest challenge.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this may well be" to express a confident, but not absolute, belief in a particular outcome or situation. It adds a nuanced level of certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "this may well be" when you need to express absolute certainty. Use stronger phrases like "this is" or "this will be" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this may well be" functions as a modal expression, indicating a strong possibility or likelihood. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. Examples in the search data demonstrate its use across various contexts to convey a confident assertion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

81%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this may well be" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to convey a strong likelihood or possibility. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its widespread usage, particularly in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. While it suggests a confident assertion, it stops short of absolute certainty, making it suitable for a variety of situations where a nuanced expression of probability is desired. When using "this may well be", be mindful of overstating certainty and consider alternatives like "this could be" or "it is likely" for slightly different shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this could very well be

Emphasizes the possibility more strongly.

it is quite likely that this is

Adds a degree of probability and formality.

this is possibly

More concise and less emphatic.

this is probably

Indicates a higher degree of likelihood.

it is conceivable that this is

Suggests that something is within the realm of possibility.

this might actually be

Adds a touch of surprise or unexpectedness.

it is not unlikely that this is

Expresses likelihood through a double negative.

this is potentially

Highlights the inherent possibility of something.

it's a good bet that this is

Informal expression indicating a likely outcome.

this could turn out to be

Focuses on the future outcome or result.

FAQs

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

"This may well be" is used to express a strong possibility or likelihood. For example, "This may well be the best solution to the problem."

What phrases are similar to "this may well be"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "this could be", "it is likely", or "this is probably", each carrying slightly different nuances of certainty.

Is "this may be" different from "this may well be"?

Yes, "this may well be" implies a greater degree of confidence or likelihood than simply saying "this may be". The inclusion of "well" strengthens the assertion.

Can "this may well be" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "this may well be" is suitable for formal writing, as it is grammatically correct and conveys a professional tone. However, the suitability also depends on the context.