In the first installment of Strong Word Choices or As the Word Turns or Words That Get You Closure... we address the auxilliary verb "Might." (Not to be confused with the noun to indicate power or physical strength which is perfectly fine and don't we all wish we could use more regularly that way!)
Let's stop using the word "might" as an auxilliary verb. In fact auxiliary verbs should be avoided altogether because they are what? Auxiliary – support, used in case the real word is not available.
Why? When used in a question might is extremely weak.
Why? Because if the person actually ANSWERS your question you do not have an action – you don’t know if you can get what you want.
And here’s an example:
Bob: Might you have some time?
Ellen: Yeah I might.
Bob: I thought you had some time…
Ellen: Yeah, I told you I might, I didn’t say I did. You didn’t ask me if I did, you asked me if I might, and I might, but I don’t know.
Bob: Well do you have time?
Ellen: No
And another example:
Sue: Might you be interested in meeting with Joe?
Joe: I might be.
And then you have to go back and say:
Sue: When might you be available?
Joe: I might be available at 2 on Monday.
Then at 2 on Monday.
Waiting waiting waiting.
Sue: I thought you said you were available on Monday at 2?
Joe: No I said I might be available at 2 on Monday – but in the end I wasn’t. Didn’t sound like you actually needed me.
Sue: So are you available?
Joe: No. (or yes)
Ask the stronger question to get a definitive answer faster – regardless of intention.
As an ANSWER, might doesn't help us either, as it does not get the asker any closer to closure than before the question was posed.
Megan: Bill are you available at 4pm on Tuesday to discuss taxes?
Bill: I might be.
Now we're into an email volley that clogs up space and suspends progress in limbo.
Better from Bill: Right now I'm tentative at that time. Let me see if I can move that meeting. I will get back to you if I can or I will propose other times by 5pm today.
Answering a question and the intent of the question moves the ball down the field with fewer plays and more time on the clock.
That is all.
