‘May’ vs. ‘Might’ Explained: How to Use ‘May’ and ‘Might’ Properly

“May” and “might” are commonly confused words with similar meanings in the English language. Both can express the subjunctive mood and both can supplement the main verb of a sentence. A few key writing tips can help explain the correct usage of may vs. might.

1. 1. “May” suggests a high degree of probability. If you say you may do something, you have implied it is quite likely to happen.
2. 2. “Might” suggests a lower probability. “Might” implies there is a decent chance an action will not take place.
3. 3. “Might” is appropriate for past tense. Although “might” is not the past tense of “may,” it is still the best word to describe something that happened in the past.
4. 4. “May” is better for the present tense. If there is a chance of something happening in the immediate term, “may” tends to be the better word choice.
5. 5. “May” can express permission. When making polite requests or granting permission, use the word “may.”
6. 6. “Might” will help clarify that permission is not a factor. Use “might” instead of “may” when you want to make clear that expressing permission is not the goal of your sentence.

“May” is a modal auxiliary verb that clarifies the main verb of a sentence. When preceding a verb, it suggests the possibility of something happening, but it does not guarantee it as a certainty. In the sentence "I will pick up dinner on my way home," the auxiliary verb “will” implies certainty. In the sentence "I may pick up dinner on my way home," the auxiliary verb “may” implies there’s a possibility but no guarantees.

Follow these four rules for using “may” in a sentence.

1. 1. Use “may” to describe present-tense hypotheticals. For example, "You may be in line for a promotion."
2. 2. Use “may” to describe things that are likely to happen. For example, "It may rain all day, but I'm still playing golf."
3. 3. Use “may” to express permission. For example, "You may go to the movies tonight."
4. 4. Use “may” to express a confident negative hypothetical. For example, "You may not go to the movies under any circumstances."

Like “may,” the word “might” is a modal auxiliary verb that clarifies the main verb of a sentence. The slight difference between “may” and “might” is that “may” implies strong certainty about hypothetical events and “might” expresses a lesser degree of certainty.

“Might” is a stronger word choice than “may” when describing past hypotheticals. It is also the word of choice when emphasizing possibility rather than permission. The word “may” strongly correlates with granting permission, so using “might” can clear up a lot of confusion.

Whether writing or copy editing, use the word “might” in the following four circumstances.

1. 1. “Might” is the correct word to describe past hypotheticals. For example, "I might have messed up my diet last night when I ate those donuts."
2. 2. Use “might” to describe hypotheticals with lower degrees of certainty. For example, "I might know Japanese grammar better than her."
3. 3. Use “might” to express negative hypotheticals that don't come with absolute certainty. For example, "I might not make every shot, but I'll keep trying."
4. 4. Use “might” to clarify a statement of possibility rather than permission. For example, "My mom said I may not see my friends tonight, and I just might cry."

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