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Usage Entry 1045 / 1350 60-second read

Maybe vs. May be

Adverb versus two-word verb phrase.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

The answer maybe simpler than we think.

✓ Correct

The answer may be simpler than we think.

The ruleii

MAYBE = perhaps (one word). MAY BE = might be (two).

MAYBE is an adverb meaning perhaps. MAY BE is the modal verb MAY followed by BE. Test: if you can say "might be," use two words.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

Test: "might be"? Two words.

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