we may receive

USAGE SUMMARY

'we may receive' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the possibility of receiving something. For example: 'We may receive our package later today.'.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Microsoft specifically notes, "We are not currently permitted to report detailed information about the type and volume of any national security orders … that we may receive, so any national security orders we may receive are not included in this report".

The New Yorker

"We sure would be most grateful to you and EE-Biz for any help we may receive at this low tide in our lives".

The New York Times

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The Times

A system currently over Texas is projected to hit the mid-Atlantic states on Thursday; we may receive some rain if it moves farther north than expected.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

For a permanent position in many subject areas, we may receive as many as 300 applications, and a good number of the applicants could do the job perfectly well.

The Guardian

Through Ahern's project, we learn that knowing we may receive a response is part of the irresistible urge of texting – even if we don't know whether the response is coming from a human or a robot, and even when it's just our own words and feelings reflected back at us at the project's preordained three-month intervals.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

We may have received the blessing of our religious community, but we also received a federal tax bill for 2012 that was $1200 higher than a straight couple's would have been.

Huffington Post

"Our best answer to that is a plain-English disclosure that says we may have received money from this company and you should know that," Mr. Kaswell said.

The New York Times

I think we may have received some Top 10 honorable mention…but it didn't quite work out as we anticipated.

TechCrunch

As children, we saw pediatricians; we may have received help in school; many of our parents needed childcare so they could work; transportation was critical; and some of us with special needs required specialized care.

Huffington Post

We were therefore aware that we may have received incorrect information regarding age or relationships despite direct questions.

BMC Medical Ethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we may receive" to express a possibility, not a certainty. If you are sure something will be received, use "we will receive".

Common error

Avoid using "we may receive" when you have concrete evidence or assurance that something will be received. Using it in such situations weakens your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we may receive" functions as a modal verb construction indicating a possibility or likelihood of obtaining something. It sets an expectation that something could happen, rather than a guaranteed outcome. Ludwig provides examples of this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

27%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we may receive" is a common phrase used to express the possibility of obtaining something. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news, scientific, and academic contexts. Its usage conveys uncertainty and is best suited for neutral to formal communication. When using the phrase, consider the context to ensure that it appropriately reflects the level of certainty or expectation. For more direct expressions, alternatives like "we will receive" should be considered, whereas "we might obtain" may be suitable when needing to express lower levels of confidence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's possible we'll get

Replaces "may receive" with "it's possible we'll get", changing the structure to an introductory clause followed by a future tense verb, but retains the element of uncertainty.

we might obtain

Substitutes "may receive" with "might obtain", using a different modal verb and a more formal synonym for "get", which shifts the tone slightly.

it is likely we will acquire

Rephrases using "it is likely we will acquire", making the probability more explicit and using a formal verb.

we could be granted

Changes the sentence to passive voice, focusing on the act of being granted rather than actively receiving, and uses "could" to indicate possibility.

there's a chance we'll be given

Uses the idiomatic expression "there's a chance" to convey possibility, and "be given" replaces "receive" to simplify the language.

we stand to gain

Emphasizes the potential benefit of receiving something, implying a positive outcome, and uses the phrasal verb "stand to gain".

it's not impossible for us to get

Expresses possibility by negating impossibility, creating a more indirect and emphatic tone.

we are in line for

Implies that receiving is contingent on fulfilling certain criteria, and uses the idiom "in line for".

we anticipate getting

Highlights expectation rather than just possibility and uses a more casual verb "getting".

something might come our way

Uses a more figurative and less direct way of expressing the potential of receiving something, implying chance or serendipity.

FAQs

How to use "we may receive" in a sentence?

Use "we may receive" to indicate the possibility of getting something. For example, "If we submit the proposal on time, "we may receive" funding."

What can I say instead of "we may receive"?

You can use alternatives like "it's possible we'll get", "we might obtain", or "we could be granted" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "we may receive" or "we will receive"?

"We may receive" indicates a possibility, while "we will receive" indicates certainty. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the situation.

What's the difference between "we may receive" and "we are likely to receive"?

"We may receive" suggests a possibility that is less certain than "we are likely to receive". The latter implies a higher probability of receiving something.