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When to use "May" versus "Might" as well as news about upcoming FREE training webinars!
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In a series of posts within posts, our friends at Virtus Publishing will provide tips and advice covering many aspects of publishing. This next series will be an ongoing selection of language tips, covering areas that many copy editors (and authors) find difficult. These will be short and to the point.
Virtus Publishing Language Tip #3: “May” versus “Might”
During group sessions with CEs I regularly emphasize the idea of leaving text that is grammatically correct alone: CEs must learn to be conservative with their edits, particularly to ensure that they are maintaining “the author’s voice.” No one will ever say that you’re a great editor simply based on the number of changes you make.
One unnecessary change I see regularly concerns changing “may” to “might.”
I knew a CE several years ago who, if presented with a sentence that used “might,” would change it to “may.” With a sentence that used “may,” he’d change it to “might” ☹.
When CEs make this change it's possible that they have a personal preference for one over the other. But it's also very likely that they are making the change for the sake of making a change. Some CEs incorrectly believe that if they don't make a lot of changes someone will accuse them of not doing their job. Nothing could be further from the truth.
I once visited a customer who was troubled by the high number of unnecessary changes that were being made in his manuscripts. During our meeting he very dramatically picked up a huge manuscript print out, dropped it on the table and said
"I don't care if this comes back unchanged with a note that says, 'OK as is,' as long as the copy editor has checked the spelling, grammar, punctuation, and style."
Returning to Tip #3, the difference between “may” and “might” is subtle.
They both indicate that something is possible, but something that “may” happen is more likely than something that “might” happen.
Let’s look at an example of each.
I might climb Mt. Rainier today.
I may take a hike through the woods.
I think it’s easy to assume that, considering that Mt. Rainier is a 14,410 foot active volcano and that 50% of all attempts to climb it fail, I won’t be doing that (at least not today) 😉 .
So in this case “might” is appropriate.
But taking a hike through the woods is a lot easier (and likelier). In this case “may” is appropriate.
Keep in mind that most people (even native English speakers) are unaware of these subtle differences.
For authors, my best advice is as follows:
Use “may” for those things that are likely.
Use “might” for those things that are theoretically possible, but unlikely.
For editors, my best advice when you come across either “may” or “might” is simple:
Leave them as written.
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