May vs Might: Differences in Meaning, Usage, and Certainty

May and might are both used to talk about possibility, but they do not show the same level of certainty. The difference is mainly about how confident the speaker feels. May suggests a realistic or likely possibility, while might shows more doubt or hesitation.

If you are unsure whether to say “It may work” or “It might work”, this guide will help you choose correctly. You will learn how each verb is used, how the meaning changes in different situations, and which one sounds more natural in everyday English.

May vs Might: Simple Difference First

The difference between may and might is mainly about how certain you sound.

Use may when something is possible and you have a reason to believe it could happen. The speaker sounds fairly confident, even though the outcome is not guaranteed. For example, if a manager has already reviewed a request, you might say the update may be approved today. The possibility feels realistic.

Use might when the situation is more uncertain. The speaker is careful and does not want to commit to an outcome. If the same request has not been reviewed yet, saying it might be approved today shows hesitation and doubt.

Compare these two sentences:

• The client may respond this afternoon.
• The client might respond this afternoon.

Both talk about possibility. The first suggests a stronger expectation. The second suggests that the outcome is less clear.

In most situations, choosing between may and might comes down to how confident you feel about what could happen.

What Does May Mean in English?

May is used to talk about a realistic possibility or to give formal permission. It often appears when the speaker has some information, authority, or context that supports what they are saying.

Using May for Possibility

When you use may for possibility, you are not guessing blindly. You are suggesting that something could happen based on what you know. For instance, if a team has nearly finished testing a feature, you might say the update may go live this week. The outcome is still open, but it feels plausible.

Examples:

• The delivery may arrive earlier if traffic stays light.
• The company may announce the policy update this week.
• This change may improve response time for customers.

In each case, may shows a reasonable possibility, not certainty.

Using May for Permission (Formal Use)

May is also common in formal or official permission. In professional writing, policies, or polite requests, it sounds neutral and respectful. A notice might state that visitors may enter through the side gate, or an employee might ask, May I leave a few minutes early? In these situations, may sets a formal tone rather than a casual one.

Examples:

• May I speak with the hiring manager?
• Employees may access the building after 9 a.m.
• You may submit the application online.

In modern English, can is common in speech, but may still sounds more formal and polite in writing and official contexts.

What Does Might Mean in English?

Might is used to talk about possibility when the outcome is uncertain. It often shows hesitation, doubt, or caution. You use might when you do not want to sound confident or when several outcomes are possible.

Using Might for Uncertain Possibility

When you use might, you are presenting an idea as one possible outcome, not a strong expectation. The speaker does not have enough information to feel confident.

For example, if a decision has not been discussed yet or depends on many factors, saying it might happen sounds more accurate than saying it may happen.

Examples:

• The client might respond after reviewing the proposal.
• The system might experience minor issues during the update.
• She might attend the conference if her schedule allows.

In each sentence, might shows uncertainty rather than likelihood.

Using Might for Suggestions or Careful Advice

Might is also common when you want to suggest something gently. It reduces pressure and keeps the idea open, especially in professional or sensitive situations.

Examples:

• You might want to double-check the figures before submitting the report.
• We might consider delaying the launch until testing is complete.
• He might try a different approach next time.

Here, might makes the suggestion sound thoughtful, not forceful.

May vs Might: Degree of Possibility Compared

The main difference between may and might is how confident the speaker feels about what could happen. Both modal verbs talk about possibility, but they do not carry the same strength.

Use may when the situation feels realistic and there is some reason to expect the outcome. The speaker sounds cautious but reasonably confident. For example, if a team is waiting on final approval that usually comes quickly, saying the project may launch this week suggests a fair chance.

Use might when the outcome is less clear or depends on several unknown factors. The speaker does not want to suggest a strong expectation. In the same situation, if approval has not even been discussed yet, saying the project might launch this week sounds more accurate.

Compare how meaning shifts with the same context:

• The manager may approve the request today.
• The manager might approve the request today.

Both sentences are grammatically correct. The difference lies in confidence. May suggests a stronger possibility. Might suggests more uncertainty.

In everyday English, this choice helps you be precise about what you know and how sure you are. When in doubt, ask yourself one question: Do I have a reason to believe this will happen?
If yes, may fits better. If not, might is the safer choice.

Can May and Might Refer to the Present or Future?

Both may and might are used to talk about situations in the present or the future. The verb itself does not change the time reference. Context does.

When you use may for the present, you are talking about something that could be true right now. For example, if someone is not answering their phone, you might say they may be in a meeting. This suggests a reasonable explanation based on what you know.

Might works the same way, but with less confidence. If you have very little information, saying the person might be in a meeting sounds more cautious and less certain.

The same idea applies to future situations. If plans are mostly settled but not final, may fits better. If plans are unclear or depend on several factors, might is the safer choice.

Examples:

• She may be working from home today.
• She might be working from home today.
• The event may take place next month.
• The event might take place next month.

In each pair, the time reference stays the same. Only the speaker’s level of confidence changes. Understanding this helps you avoid thinking of may and might as tense markers. They express attitude, not time.

Common Sentence Patterns with May and Might

Even though may and might express different levels of certainty, they follow the same basic sentence structure.

Expressing Possibility

The most common pattern is used to talk about present or future possibility. You place may or might before the base form of the verb.

Examples:

• The results may change after the final review.
• The results might change after the final review.

The structure is identical. The difference comes from how confident the speaker sounds.

Asking for Permission (May)

When permission is formal or polite, may often appears at the beginning of the sentence.

Examples:

• May I join the meeting remotely?
• May we proceed with the next step?

Making Suggestions (Might)

Might is used before the base form of the verb to offer suggestions without sounding forceful. The pattern stays simple and indirect.

Examples:

• You might consider revising the introduction.
• We might review the timeline once more.

These patterns repeat across everyday English. Once you recognize them, you can focus on meaning and tone instead of worrying about form.

Common Mistakes with May and Might

Even though may and might are similar, small misuse can change the meaning or sound unnatural. These are the most common issues to watch for.

Using Might When the Situation Is Clear

When something follows a fixed rule, schedule, or official decision, might can sound too uncertain.

Incorrect: The office might open at 9 a.m.
Correct: The office may open at 9 a.m.

If the time is set or officially announced, may fits better because the possibility is realistic, not doubtful.

Using May for Pure Guessing

When you have no information at all, may can sound too confident.

Incorrect: She may join the event. (no context or reason)
Correct: She might join the event.

Use might when you are guessing or when the outcome depends on many unknown factors.

Treating May and Might as Tense Markers

A common misunderstanding is thinking that may is present and might is past. This is not true in everyday usage.

Examples:

• He may be in the office right now.
• He might be in the office right now.

Both refer to the present. The difference is confidence, not time.

Avoiding these mistakes helps you use may and might more naturally and accurately.

FAQs: May vs Might