Key Difference

• Might and may both indicate that something is possible but not certain.
• May is generally more formal and sometimes suggests a slightly higher possibility, while might feels more tentative or less certain.

1. When to Use May

Use may when discussing possibilities that are likely or polite requests. It often appears in both spoken and written English, especially in formal contexts.

Examples

• Possibility: “She may attend the meeting tomorrow.” (There’s a chance she will attend.)
• Polite Permission: “You may leave the room after you finish the test.”

In everyday conversation, using may can also imply a level of politeness or formality. For instance:

• “We may go to the beach this weekend if it’s sunny.” (This implies a real, somewhat likely plan.)

2. When to Use Might

Use might to express a possibility that seems a bit less certain or more hypothetical than may. Might often suggests that the outcome is not as likely.

Examples

• Possibility: “He might go to the party, but he hasn’t decided yet.” (He hasn’t committed and may or may not go.)
• Past Possibility: Might is also used to express possibility in the past when combined with “have”:
  • “They might have missed the bus because they left late.” (Expresses a possibility that could have happened in the past.)

In casual speech, might is more common than may when people are uncertain:

• “I might start learning French next year.” (There’s a chance, but it’s not a firm decision.)

3. Using Might and May Interchangeably

In many cases, might and may can be swapped without a major change in meaning:

• “It may rain tomorrow.”
• “It might rain tomorrow.”

Both sentences mean there’s a chance of rain, but may sounds slightly more formal and confident, while might feels a bit more tentative.

Common Mistakes and Tips

• Don’t use might and may with “will”: Saying “might will” or “may will” is incorrect. Just use might or may alone to express possibility.
• Avoid overuse in one sentence: Instead of, “I might maybe go to the concert,” say, “I might go to the concert.”

Practice Time

Fill in the blanks with might or may based on the hint:

1. (Less certain) They _______ come to the picnic, but they haven’t decided yet.
2. (Formal permission) You _______ start the exam now.
3. (Possibility) We _______ visit Paris this summer if we save enough money.
4. (Past possibility) She _______ have left the keys at home.

Answers

1. might
2. may
3. may
4. might

Pro Tip

To remember the difference, think of may as slightly more formal or likely, like giving someone permission, while might often sounds more hypothetical or tentative.