![]() The word might is typically used in the past tense to describe something that’s unlikely to happen or situations that didn’t take place. The word may is typically used in the present tense to indicate something that’s likely to happen or to ask for permission. might FAQs What’s the difference between may and might? I might be required to take an internship in order to graduate.The author hinted that a new book might be released this summer.It might be easiest if you prioritize major courses this semester and take electives next year.The new software may be more complex than we realize.If the beautiful weather holds, we may be dismissed early to enjoy the outdoors.I may be new to this industry, but I have many relevant skills.Now, compare may be example sentences with might be example sentences: When I’m an astronaut, I might lead the first mission to Jupiter.The delivery person might have dropped off a package while I was in class.If it hadn’t rained, we might have held a barbecue.We may be in the running for the top prize!Ĭompare them to the ways might can be used in a sentence:.My brother may need to pick up groceries on his way home.Here are different ways may can be used in a sentence: I’ll do all I can to make it to the meeting, but I might be late.If you plan to apply to medical school, you might be best served by majoring in biology.It can be used to form a polite suggestion or, like might on its own, indicate an unlikely possibility: The students may be going on a field trip next week if the budget is approved.May be is a verb phrase that, like may, indicates a likely possibility. The differences between may and might extend to may be and might be. If I win the lottery, I might buy a private island.The mistake was only in a few frames, so the film’s editors might have missed it.Generally, might is the better choice for past tense as well. Use might when you’re describing an unlikely or even completely speculative hypothetical. Javed may offer more tutoring sessions in the future.Use may when you’re describing a likely hypothetical, something that’s happening in the present tense, or something about which you’re granting or asking for permission. May in a sentenceĪn easy way to understand how to use may and might is to see them in sentences. When you’re unsure of whether to use may versus might, our grammar checker can help you by flagging mistakes in your writing and offering suggestions. Other word pairs that are commonly confused despite having clearly defined usage rules are to versus for and was versus were. Unlike other word categories and speech components, such as its versus it’s, there are few definitively correct and incorrect ways to use them. With might and may, the grammatical rules for using them may be more accurately described as guidelines. Upon further review, I may have graded your work unfairly.Generally speaking, may is the best word choice when writing in the present tense, while might is the better choice when writing in the past tense. In a lot of instances, though, the line between may and might is more clear-cut. If you’re feeling confident about being accepted, you’d likely communicate this by saying, “I may enroll in a highly selective graduate program next fall.” If you’re less confident but still want to communicate that it’s a possibility, you’d instead say, “I might enroll in a highly selective graduate program next fall.” For example, let’s say you applied to a highly selective graduate program. When it comes to choosing may or might to describe a hypothetical, the onus is on the speaker or writer to determine just how likely the hypothetical is to occur. And to most American English speakers, while this doesn’t necessarily sound wrong, it’s less common. In British English, might is often used to ask for permission. ![]() While may is often used to ask for or imply permission, might has nothing to do with permission-at least, in American English. Used to describe situations that did not occurĪs you can see, may and might aren’t diametrically opposed.Used to describe unlikely hypotheticals.Can be used to give or ask for permission.Used to describe a probable hypothetical.These are the key differences between them: May: May and might may seem interchangeable, but they aren’t. Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly May vs.
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