May vs. Might: What’s the Difference?
Originally Published: May 2023
In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a whiting tries to convince a snail to join a dance — and the snail, understandably skeptical about being thrown into the sea, declines. But let's say the snail was actually considering it. He could have said:
"I may join the dance."
"I might join the dance."
Both sentences work, but they don't mean the same thing. Knowing the difference will make your writing more precise.
What is the difference between may and might?
Both words are modal verbs that express possibility and are frequently used interchangeably. The distinction comes down to degrees of likelihood.
May suggests something is reasonably likely to happen.
Might suggests something is possible but less certain.
A quick way to think about it: may is closer to "probably will consider it."
Might is closer to "it's not out of the question."
So if our hesitant snail was genuinely leaning toward joining the dance, may is the right word. If he was skeptical but hadn't ruled it out entirely, might is more accurate. Given that the dance ends with being thrown into the sea, might seems more honest.
When to use may in a sentence
Use may when something is a real possibility — likely or plausible, even if not certain. Here are some examples:
I may go to the party tonight. (There's a good chance.)
It may rain this afternoon. (The forecast suggests it's likely.)
May is also the word to use when expressing permission. For example:
You may leave the room. (Permission granted.)
May I ask a question? (A polite request — much more common than might in this construction, and what your third-grade teacher was actually asking you to say.)
When to use might in a sentence
Use might when something is possible but less probable — more speculative, more conditional. Here are some examples:
I might go to the party tonight. (I'm considering it, but probably not.)
If I leave early, I might catch the train. (It's possible, but I'm not counting on it.)
Might also appears in past-tense and conditional constructions where may wouldn't fit grammatically. For example:
She said she might come. (Reported speech — may doesn't work here.)
If you had asked, he might have helped. (Hypothetical past — again, may wouldn't work.)
Can may and might be used interchangeably?
In casual writing and everyday speech, most readers won't notice the difference. But in polished writing — especially a book — using them correctly adds precision to your prose. The more carefully you write, the more these distinctions matter.
When in doubt: may for higher likelihood, might for lower likelihood or hypothetical situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between "may" and "might"?
Both express possibility, but may implies something is more likely to happen, while might implies something is possible but less certain. May is also used to express permission. Might is used for more speculative or conditional situations.
Can "may" and "might" be used interchangeably?
In casual conversation, yes — most readers won't notice. In formal or polished writing, using them correctly adds precision. The key difference is degree of likelihood: may for stronger possibility, might for weaker or hypothetical possibility.
Is "might" the past tense of "may"?
Historically, yes. Might was the past tense of may. In modern usage, they function as separate modal verbs, but might is still the correct choice in past-tense and conditional constructions where may wouldn't fit grammatically.
Which is more formal: "may" or "might"?
May is generally considered the more formal of the two, particularly when asking permission. "May I help you?" sounds more polished than "Might I help you?" — though both are technically correct.
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