Ahmad Batiran (asker) Aug 18, 2010:

Thank you! I'd like to thank every answerer for enriching this post!

Tony M Aug 12, 2010:

I feel more than ever sure ... ... that this is an error in the source text, it is just the sort of error that might easily be made by a non-native speaker, however good the standard of their English.

I think your own interpretation is correct, that this is simply the impersonal construction, which requires the passive 'be submitted' as you have correctly determined.

Armorel Young Aug 12, 2010:

So does the letter go "Reference your letter ... regarding your project. It may submit..."? Or is there something else in between?

Ahmad Batiran (asker) Aug 12, 2010:

No. The first sentence is what I mentioned earlier "Reference your letter..."

Armorel Young Aug 11, 2010:

Is this literally the opening sentence of the letter, after "Dear So&SO"?

Ahmad Batiran (asker) Aug 11, 2010:

Well Reliable non-native speaker of English

Tony M Aug 11, 2010:

@ Armorel I think that's the whole point of Asker's question — it's looking increasingly as if the source text is flawed, and it may well be that the impersonal "It may be submitted that..." is in fact what was originally intended; perhaps Asker could tell us if the source text is reliable, native-speaker English or not?

Armorel Young Aug 11, 2010:

"It" must refer to something, since somebody has got to do the submitting - it must be "the court" or "the defence" or "the other side" - unlike rain, submitting can't just happen without someone doing it.

Ahmad Batiran (asker) Aug 11, 2010:

A letter... As you see, it is a letter. A lawyer is talking about certain contracting issues.

Ahmad Batiran (asker) Aug 11, 2010:

Nothing much... "Reference your letter No. xxx, dated xxx, regarding xxx project."

I don't think it refers to any thing, just like "it rains."

Tony M Aug 11, 2010:

Context Yes, nerino is right: it's impossible to tell without knowing more of the surrounding context; noramlly, the substitution you propose wouldn't make sense, but it all depends on the context, and indeed, if the text was correct in the first place!

Nerino Aug 11, 2010:

I think that the previous sentence might clarify what the "it" refers to, could you please write it?