may refer to vs may refer

Both "may refer to" and "may refer" are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. "May refer to" is commonly used when introducing a term or concept that needs further explanation, while "may refer" is used when suggesting a possibility without specifying what it refers to.

Last updated: March 29, 2024 • 2151 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"may refer to"

This phrase is used when introducing a term or concept that needs further explanation. It is often followed by the specific term or concept being referred to.

Examples:

The term 'global warming' may refer to the increase in Earth's average surface temperature.
The symbol '+' may refer to addition in mathematics.
The word 'cat' may refer to a small domesticated carnivorous mammal.

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This financial operation can also take place between other institutional sectors and may refer to securities instead of loans.
1. The declaration referred to in Article 4 may refer to more than one shipment, provided that:
Such general instructions, guidelines or requests may refer to groups or categories of credit institutions.
Initiatives may refer to one of the above-mentioned specific areas or combine several specific areas.
Information published on Performers Club and driveIT may refer to products, programs or services that are not available in your country.
1. Only producers complying with the product specification may refer to a traditional speciality guaranteed on the labelling, advertising or other documents relating to an agricultural product or foodstuff.
Discard data may refer to parts of the group of vessel
To the extent that the contract award notice drawn up pursuant to Article 70 or Article 92(2) contains the information required in this paragraph, contracting entities may refer to that notice.
For these groups, this competence may refer to an official language, rather than to a foreign language.
The confirmation of OTC derivative contracts may refer to one or more master agreements, master confirmation agreements, or other standard terms. It may take the form of an electronically executed contract or a document signed by both counterparties.
Those standards may refer to factors which are not purely economic, but influence the value of a tender from the point of view of the contracting authority or contracting entity and permit it to identify an overall economic advantage to the contracting authority or the contracting entity.
a building may refer to the building as a whole or parts thereof that have been designed or altered to be used separately;
'The competent authorities may refer to EBA situations where:
You may refer to us simply as Langley.
However, providers may refer to this Regulation to determine the format of the inventory.
These additional data may refer to the breakdowns marked in Table 1A other than the «minimum requirements».
You may refer to me as the Beast.
If I may refer to it in the 3rd person.
It may refer to cross-border cooperation measures, or to other structural measures.
This list is not exhaustive: the applicant may refer to other factors.

Alternatives:

can refer to
might refer to
could refer to
refers to

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in English.

"may refer"

This phrase is used when suggesting a possibility without specifying what it refers to. It leaves the reference open-ended.

Examples:

The strange noise may refer to a problem with the engine.
His behavior may refer to a deeper issue.
The symbol may refer to an ancient symbol of protection.

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A declaration of entry into storage may refer to a maximum of two boned meat certificates.
An agent's utility function may refer to states of, or entities within, its ontology.
This list is not exhaustive: the applicant may refer to other factors.
The manual shall not be legally binding, but it may refer to or quote relevant legal provisions.
He may refer the matter to the Tribunal.
For the same reasons, the Presidium may refer a case to the Grand Board.
The applicant may refer the matter to the regulatory body.
This common methodology may refer to relevant European standards and shall:
Any Member State may refer a decision taken in accordance with Article 20 or 21 to the Council within one month's time.
The President may refer the decision on this matter to the Court.
For this purpose, the EFTA State may refer to data provided by its national statistical office or other recognised sources.
This financial operation can also take place between other institutional sectors and may refer to securities instead of loans.
For instance, the term 'solar system' may refer to our own planetary chain and its evolution.
The applicant may refer to other documentation submitted alone or with a simplified IMPD.
Alternatively, the NCA may refer the request to the ECB.
The following list of detergent surfactants It may refer as appropriate to the enforcement of international agreements and/or organisations.
Mrs Breyer, I would like to point out to you that you may refer only to statements made concerning yourself in the course of the debate.
You may refer to section 8 to know more on how to place an exception.
Site Content may refer to products or services that may not be available in your country.
If there is no satisfactory solution, either Member State may refer the matter to the Commission.

Alternatives:

could refer
might refer
may be referring to
possibly refers to

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may refer to vs may refer

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