Must, need to, may, might
must-need-may-might
must (law) vs need to (admin) vs may/might (permission) — not “legally required to.” Don’t use can/could for permission (those mean ability).
Description
Canada.ca distinguishes obligation language carefully: must for law, need to for administrative requirements, and may or might for permission. Do not write “legally required to.” Do not use can or could for permission — those words mean ability, not leave to act. Apply when wording instructional obligations and permissions in Canada.ca copy. Fail “legally required to,” or can/could used where permission is meant.
When to use
Wording obligations and permissions in Canada.ca instructional copy.
Not when
Ability statements where can or could correctly means capability.
Agent hint
Write must / need to / may-might; avoid “legally required to” and can-for-permission.
Legal obligation = must; admin = need to; permission = may/might.
“Legally required to”; can/could used for permission.
Citations
Canada.ca — Content Style Guide
https://design.canada.ca/style-guide/index.html