<p>The quote in the question includes both words, &quot;may&quot; and &quot;must&quot;. So it seems very clear that &quot;may&quot; refers to an action that is optional.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-11-17T05:36:08.113Z
2024-11-17T05:36:08.113Z
Community College Teacher
<blockquote>
  <p>Single Color Match Bonus: at the end of your turn you may lay one card from your hand face-up in the Center Row.</p>
  
  <p>Double Color Match: at the end of your turn you (1) lay one card from your hand face-up in the Center Row and (2) all other players must draw one card from the Draw Pile.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>May I choose not to lay down a card for a Single Color Match?</strong> <em>It might be better to end my turn with two cards instead of one, and the word "may" implies a decision; further, the word "may" is absent from the Double Color Match passage of the rules.</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-11T22:12:57.647Z
In both English and common board game jargon, "you may do X" denotes that doing "X" is optional. Do you have any reason to believe otherwise here?
ikegami
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-14T02:38:30.830Z
Well, I guess maybe I thought it was an oversight to use "may" on only one of the two rules. If that's intended, then it's only optional to lay the card on a single color match. I don't have any *good reason*, though. Also, I was not familiar with common board game jargon.
user45266
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-14T13:21:26.163Z
Ah yes,  good point
ikegami
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-15T20:13:11.343Z
I would think that the use of may for one and not the other is intentional. This could be a way for them to balance out the strength of the bonuses.
icirellik
<dos>
"May" implies choice...?
user45266
# "May" implies choice...?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-01-11)

> Single Color Match Bonus: at the end of your turn you may lay one card from your hand face-up in the Center Row.
>
> Double Color Match: at the end of your turn you (1) lay one card from your hand face-up in the Center Row and (2) all other players must draw one card from the Draw Pile.

**May I choose not to lay down a card for a Single Color Match?** *It might be better to end my turn with two cards instead of one, and the word "may" implies a decision; further, the word "may" is absent from the Double Color Match passage of the rules.*

**Tags:** dos

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: In both English and common board game jargon, "you may do X" denotes that doing "X" is optional. Do you have any reason to believe otherwise here?  
> **username_0**: Well, I guess maybe I thought it was an oversight to use "may" on only one of the two rules. If that's intended, then it's only optional to lay the card on a single color match. I don't have any *good reason*, though. Also, I was not familiar with common board game jargon.  
> **username_1**: Ah yes,  good point  
> **username_2**: I would think that the use of may for one and not the other is intentional. This could be a way for them to balance out the strength of the bonuses.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2024-11-17. Score: 1

The quote in the question includes both words, "may" and "must". So it seems very clear that "may" refers to an action that is optional.


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