Should you use the word ‘may’ or ‘might’? Some people find this pretty confusing because others use the terms interchangeably. But we can help clear things up and teach you how to use the word appropriately in a sentence.
But if you want the short answer, here it is:
‘May’ implies strong certainty about the potential for events to occur.
‘Might’ implies a lower degree of certainty.
As briefly discussed above, the word ‘may’ indicates that there’s a strong possibility that something will happen. While on the other hand, the word ‘might’ implies that someone is on the verge of doing something (or something is on the verge of happening) but isn’t completely decided.
For example, if someone said they may go to the store, there’s a stronger chance than if they said they might go.
So, in essence, ‘may’ is stronger than ‘might.’
There are cases where the two words could be used interchangeably.
Now that we know the slight difference between the words let’s take it a step further and define both words.
The Merriam-Webster definition of ‘may’ is: “used to indicate possibility or probability,” “sometimes used interchangeably with can,” “sometimes used where might would be expected,” “have permission to,” “be free to,” “used in auxiliary function to express purpose or expectation, contingency, concession, or choice,” “used in auxiliary function to express a wish or desire, especially in prayer, imprecation, or benediction,” and “shall, must, used in law where the sense, purpose, or policy requires this interpretation.”
It can also mean: “maiden,” “the fifth month of the Gregorian calendar,” “the early vigorous blooming part of human life: prime,” “the festivities of May Day,” “the green or flowering branches used for May Day decorations,” “a plant that yields may, such as Hawthorne,” and “a spring-flowering spirea.”
The Merriam-Webster definition of ‘might’ is: “used to express permission, liberty, probability, or possibility in the past,” “used to say that something is possible,” “used to express a present condition contrary to fact,” “used as a polite alternative to may,” and “used as a polite alternative to ought or should.”
It’s also defined as: “the power, authority, or resources wielded (as by an individual or group),” “bodily strength,” “the power, energy, or intensity of which one is capable,” and “a great deal.”
Synonyms of the word include:
Both words are what are considered modal verbs.
You might be wondering, what is a modal verb?
A modal verb is a helping verb that connotes possibility, ability, and permission, among other things.
Let’s take a look at some examples of how to use ‘may’ correctly in a sentence.
Now let’s see how to use ‘might’ correctly in a sentence. Here are a few examples:
To recap, ‘may’ implies a strong possibility that something will happen, while ‘might’ implies a lower degree of possibility.
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