May-Have-May-Of | Commonly Confused Words

May have

/meɪ hæv/

Expression used to indicate a possibility or a potential occurrence in the past, present, or future

The missing report may have ended up in his inbox.We may have missed the last train tonight.She may have taken the wrong turn at the fork.

This word has no antonyms

/meɪ ʌv/

A common misspelling of 'may have' that is often heard in speech but considered incorrect in writing.

She may of left her keys at home.The package may of arrived earlier than expected.They may of seen the concert last night.

This word has no synonyms

This word has no antonyms

May have usually pairs with a past participle to form perfect tenses, while may of is a mistaken form that arises from phonetic similarity.
May have indicates a possibility in the past, while may of is a misunderstanding and incorrect in written English.
Remember may have is correct in formal writing; think of have as needing a present perfect partner and of as belonging to prepositions, not verb forms.