‘May’ vs. ‘might’: when to use which

Is there a difference between ‘may’ vs. ‘might’?

In many cases, using “may” instead of “might” would still be grammatically correct. If you were to change “You may be right” to “You might be right,” there’s no doubt that both sentences make sense. Both “may” and “might” are auxiliary verbs that indicate that the likelihood of something is more hypothetical than definite. However, there are two things to consider before choosing “may” over “might”: how probable the event is and the grammatical tense.

‘May’ vs. ‘might’ and probability

“May” is often used to describe a scenario that is more likely to happen than not, while “might” is more neutral. Let’s say that two people were responding to a party invite using “may” and “might,” like this:

• Claudia said she may swing by tonight.
• Sierra said she might stop in after work.

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Based on these two responses, it seems more likely for Claudia to attend the party than Sierra. Although it’s possible that both of them will make it, “may” gives off a more positive indication than “might” does.

‘May’ vs. ‘might’ and tenses

Grammatical tenses can also give you clues on which word to use. “May” is typically used for present tense, and “might” is used for past tense. However, this doesn’t mean that “may” can’t be used for past tense and “might” can’t be used for present tense. You can still say “I may have done that wrong” or “He might bring some food tonight” but using “may” for present tense and “might” for past tense generally makes more sense.

Are there other ways to use ‘may’ in a sentence?

“May” can also be used when asking for permission. “Might” is not often used for permission in American English, but it is commonly seen in British English. If you were asking someone a question, it’s more appropriate to say, “May I ask you a question?” in American English, and “Might I ask you a question?” in British English.

You can also use “may” when granting or refusing permission. In these cases, “may” is not used to describe a hypothetical. If you were to say, “Yes, you may ask me a question,” you are letting the person know that their question can be asked. On the other hand, if your mother tells you, “You may not go to the party tonight,” you are definitely not allowed to go to the party in question.

Are there other ways to use ‘might’ in a sentence?

Aside from permission in British English, “might” is often used to describe hypotheticals in unlikely scenarios or situations that did not occur. Let’s take a look at some examples of what that might look like:

• Unlikely scenario: If I had to move to Mars, I might want to bring my dog with me.
• Situation that did not occur: If the party wasn’t canceled last night, I might have met Claudia for the first time.

The bottom line is, “may” and “might” technically make sense when used interchangeably but should be chosen depending on the likelihood of the event or the grammatical tense. Learn more writing and grammar tips from our Writing Resource Center.