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Thread: Wordsmiths of the World

  1. #1
    Freshman Jimcats's Avatar
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    Wordsmiths of the World

    Here among you writer types I want to pose a question. If you were trying to explain to a foreigner studying English, how would you spell out the difference between "maybe" and "may be" other than saying one has a space and the other doesn't?

  2. #2
    Fiddlin' Five badrose's Avatar
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    Re: Wordsmiths of the World

    A preference, no difference.
    Cool as a rule, but sometimes bad is bad.

  3. #3
    Unforgettable bigsky's Avatar
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    Re: Wordsmiths of the World

    Well it may be that the distinction is hard to make, but maybe I will try. In the former the word "be" remains a verb, qualified by a less than certain "may". In the latter, the "maybe" is one word, not a verb.

  4. #4
    Fab Five Catfan73's Avatar
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    Re: Wordsmiths of the World

    I think 'maybe' is used more often as an answer between yes and no, as in "Will Joker resign soon?" "Maybe."

    'May be' is used more often to describe what something might be, as in "Is Joker a football coach?" "He may be, but it's debatable."
    changing my signature to change our luck.

  5. #5

    Re: Wordsmiths of the World

    Quote Originally Posted by Catfan73 View Post
    I think 'maybe' is used more often as an answer between yes and no, as in "Will Joker resign soon?" "Maybe."

    'May be' is used more often to describe what something might be, as in "Is Joker a football coach?" "He may be, but it's debatable."
    I agree. Separating them emphasizes the ambiguity.

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