The correct places to use the words can and may are not as easily determined as we often imagine. I was reminded of the subtleties in my seminar with the Association of Legal Administrators last week, when an attendee questioned two of my uses. (Thanks, Jennifer! I appreciate your commitment to correctness.)
Here are the simple rules:
Can is for ability:
"Can you drive a car with a standard shift?"May is for permission or possibility:
"You may borrow my car next week." (Permission)
"I may arrive late." (Possibility)
But using the simple rules above, the choice between can and may may not be obvious in the sentences below. Which word would you choose?
- Can/May I have food served in the conference room?
- Yes, you can/may make arrangements with the onsite cafe.
- Professional guests can/may have their parking tickets validated.
- Please leave your phone number so that I can/may call you back.
- Please approve these specifications so we can/may process your order.
- You can/may review 440 lessons in the archives.
For the sentences above, does the meaning involve ability, possibility, or permission?
I would say each one involves ability. For example:
- Am I able to have food served in the conference room?
- Yes, you are able to make arrangements with the onsite cafe.
- Professional guests are able to have their parking tickets validated.
I do not see the sentences as communicating permission, but another person might view them that way:
- Am I permitted to have food served in the conference room?
- Yes, you are permitted to make arrangements with the onsite cafe.
- Professional guests are permitted to have their parking tickets validated.
My objection to may is that it may (possibility) be misunderstood. Do the sentences below indicate possibility or permission?
Professional guests may have their parking tickets validated.
Repeat visitors may receive a special discount.
I advise this approach:
If you intend "able to," use can.
If you mean "will possibly," use may.
If you intend "permitted to," use may.
I believe this approach will make the choice clear in nearly all instances, but I may be wrong. That is, I will possibly be wrong, and I am permitted to be wrong--sometimes. I certainly know I can be!
Lynn
Hi Lynn,
This is great stuff! You likely can appreciate how tricky our language can be in that you get into trying to explain it to others during your workshops. Can and May are very common problem creators with my English students, and it's usually a monster to try and explain. I liked your explanation, and I'll be saving it to maybe make things easier on my students.
One thing is explaining to a native english speaker, another thing is trying to do it with folks who are trying to learn it as a second language...the whole dynamic changes. Your post will be a very useful tool - thanks!
Aaron in Mexico City
Posted by: Aaron Nelson | September 01, 2006 at 06:39 AM
Aaron, I always like to hear your reactions and challenges. Let me know if you want me to write about any particular topics.
Posted by: Lynn | September 05, 2006 at 05:40 PM
I'm so glad I happened across this post with the Google-search, "can vs. may"! Now that I grasp it, I'm sure I *can* use each properly; I *may* even be able to explain it to others! *May* I link to this post as a reference?
Posted by: Caen | August 29, 2007 at 08:53 PM
Caen, thanks for the comment. Yes, you may link--if you can!
Posted by: Lynn | August 29, 2007 at 09:03 PM
looks like you're right
Posted by: Lisa | November 19, 2007 at 05:59 PM
lol i'm trying to write an university essay on that ... :D
Posted by: Alessio | January 25, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Thanks for the explanation. I have a 16 year old Godson that insists it's "may you pass me the ketchup" and his cousin who says "may you give me the money to buy my own clothes". Both are incorrect are they not?
Posted by: GM | December 17, 2008 at 11:29 AM
"May you" is incorrect. Please see my post "Show Me the Manual." (Insert that title in the Google search box, and you will find the post.)
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | December 17, 2008 at 04:28 PM
Very informative.
Posted by: jamesBA | May 17, 2010 at 03:35 AM
Hehe, thanks for this!
My language is not perfect and I allways keep trying to make it better :)
Posted by: Eldin | September 17, 2010 at 10:08 PM
Good stuff. Thanks for this.
Posted by: Ganthimathi | February 14, 2011 at 09:47 PM
Which is correct when answering the phone (business): (1) How CAN I help you? (2) How MAY I help you?
Posted by: Betty | March 14, 2011 at 10:03 PM
Hi, Betty. I prefer "How may I help you?" It seems to express the idea of "How am I permitted to help you?" along with the possibility of helping you.
At the same time, I would not criticize "How can I help you?" meaning "How am I able to you?"
I would just be happy to be helped!
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | March 17, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Which is correct:
ONLY Social Workers can join this group.
Or
ONLY Social Workers may join this group.
(All the members of the group are Social Workers)
Posted by: Uzi | May 18, 2011 at 05:34 AM
"Only social workers may join this group." It refers to permission--not physical ability.
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | May 18, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Thank you, Lynn
Posted by: Uzi | May 18, 2011 at 11:15 AM
For possibility, an old journalism rule is to use "might" instead of "may". Just discovered your posts and love it.
Posted by: Mary Layton | July 18, 2011 at 08:09 AM