Mayshould
Mayshould is a neologism used in linguistic and normative-discussion contexts to describe a particular way of combining the modal verbs may and should. The term refers to statements or proposals that express both permission and normative recommendation, signaling that an action is permissible under certain conditions and also advisable or required in light of other considerations. It is not part of formal modal logic but appears in online debates, policy discussions, and some scholarly writings as a heuristic for examining how speakers hedge obligation.
Origins and usage: The term is a portmanteau of "may" and "should" and has appeared in informal
Examples: A policy brief might say, "Emergency procurement may be used to obtain critical supplies, but agencies
Reception: Some linguists praise mayshould as a useful shorthand for hedged normative statements; others caution that