Tip 644: Troublesome Words Nine (and Last): May be and Maybe Continued

From the Writing Workshops: Troublesome Words: Continuing Our “Maybe” and “May Be” Discussion

We’ve been talking about words that might get us in trouble. 

Last week, we talked about “maybe” and “may be.” What’s the difference? When should we use which? 

We’ve received two excellent suggestions on how to use them correctly. 

Suggestion One

Doug Durrant at Micron suggested using “might be” instead of “may be.” And, if “might be” works, then “may be” will work.

For example—

            Accounting maybe a better choice for you.

Hmmm. Plug in Doug’s two-word suggestion: 

            Accounting might be a better choice for you. 

Hmmm. “Might be” works. So “may be” will work and “maybe” won’t: 

            Accounting may be a better choice for you. 

Suggestion Two

Travis Heath at Zions Bancorporation suggested using “may or may not be” as a substitute for “may be.”

For example—

            You may be an excellent CPA. 

Plug in Travis’s suggestion: 

            You may or may not be an excellent CPA. 

That works. So “may be” works.

Using Both Suggestions

Let’s try Doug’s and Travis’s suggestions with “maybe”: 

            I could be a CPA in maybe six years. 

            I could be a CPA in might be six years. 

            I could be a CPA in may or may not be six years. 

Nope. Neither substitution works, so “may be” (two words) doesn’t work. “Maybe” (one word) works.

This is fun, isn’t it? 

We appreciate Doug and Travis.

We appreciate you.