May as well and might as well

We can use may as well and might as well for making suggestions. We can use them to say what we think is the easiest or most logical course of action when we cannot see a better alternative. They are both fairly informal. Might as well is more common than may as well:

• You might as well get a taxi from the station. It’ll be quicker than me coming in to get you.
• A: What time does the film finish?
• B: I think it’s ten o’clock.
• A: Uh-huh. We may as well eat in town before it, then.

We can make may as well and might as well stronger by using just after may or might:

• Well, I think if it’s a choice between a job and a place at college, you may just as well take the job. At least you’ll earn some money.
• We don’t know anyone here and they’re discussing stuff that doesn’t concern us. We might just as well leave.

warning

May as well and might as well don’t mean the same as may also and might also, in the sense of ‘possibly in addition’:

• Before you go hiking, buy yourself a good pair of boots. You may also need to buy thick walking socks. (in addition to boots, you might need to buy socks)
• Not: You may as well buy …