made it moot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made it moot" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that a point or issue has become irrelevant or no longer applicable, often due to a change in circumstances. Example: "The new evidence presented in court made the previous arguments moot."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But the Yankees' muscle made it moot.

The New York Times - Sports

In East Hampton, the first-term supervisor, Jay H. Schneiderman, said that Southampton's withdrawal from the extension plan made it moot in East Hampton.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Some Republicans are wondering whether it would be better for the party as far as elections go if the Supreme Court ruled in favor of gay marriage, making it moot as they try to draw in younger voters who increasingly favor gay rights.

The New York Times

When the court granted the case on June 29, it appeared that the patients' rights legislation then moving through Congress might make it moot in a matter of months, because the bill that passed the Senate that same day would have guaranteed outside review as a matter of federal law.

The New York Times

"So we made it a moot point".

The New York Times - Sports

He said he could have returned if necessary on Tuesday, but the lopsided score made it a moot point.

The New York Times - Sports

The Edwards-Keselowski scrap with three laps to go made it a moot point, leading to the first attempt at an overtime finish.

The New York Times - Sports

Instead of putting the pressure on the few remaining moderate Republicans (in other words, the two senators from Maine) to jump the aisle, Lincoln and Pryor defecting made it a moot point which way Snowe and Collins voted.

Huffington Post

Almost as soon as the decision to hand Qatar the tournament was made, it was mooted that the tournament could be moved in order to avoid the seering summer heats which can reach 45 degrees celcius.

Independent

Almost as soon as the decision to hand Qatar the tournament was made, it was mooted that the tournament could be moved to the winter - a change that would have huge repercussions for all of football.

Independent

"Legally," he said, "Sherman McCoy would be in worse shape today than he was in 1987, because prosecutors' zeal to convict The Great White Defendant is now even more fervid in the wake of the scandals of the subprime crash of 2008 — although, of course, he may very well have been laid off, even at age 64, like so many of his brethren, making it a moot point, moot but a very sad one for him".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "made it moot", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific event or change caused the issue to become irrelevant.

Common error

Avoid using "made it moot" when the issue was already irrelevant from the start. The phrase implies a change in circumstances that rendered the issue unimportant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made it moot" functions as a predicate within a sentence, indicating that a preceding action or situation has caused a particular issue to become irrelevant or inconsequential. Ludwig confirms this usage by presenting real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "made it moot" is a grammatically correct expression used to indicate that a particular issue or point has become irrelevant due to a change in circumstances. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase appears primarily in news and media contexts. While "made it moot" is not an extremely common phrase, it's a useful way to concisely convey that something is no longer worth considering. Alternatives such as "rendered it irrelevant" or "made it unnecessary" can be used to express similar meanings. It's important to ensure that the context clearly defines what caused the issue to become irrelevant when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rendered it irrelevant

Changes the verb to 'rendered' and replaces 'moot' with 'irrelevant', focusing on the lack of importance.

made it inconsequential

Replaces 'moot' with 'inconsequential', highlighting that something has become insignificant.

nullified its effect

Indicates that the effect of something was cancelled or neutralized.

made it unnecessary

Focuses on the aspect that the action or consideration is no longer needed.

rendered it academic

Suggests that a discussion or question is theoretical and has no practical impact.

put it out of the question

Highlights the element of something no longer being a possibility

eliminated its significance

Emphasizes the removal of importance or relevance from something.

negated its importance

Focuses on the reversal or cancellation of something's significance.

cancelled its relevance

Directly states that the relevance of something has been cancelled.

obviated the need for it

Highlights that something is no longer required or necessary.

FAQs

What does "made it moot" mean?

The phrase "made it moot" means that something has become irrelevant or no longer important, usually because of a change in circumstances or a subsequent event.

How can I use "made it moot" in a sentence?

You can use it to show that an earlier consideration or plan is no longer necessary or applicable. For example, "The unexpected victory "made it moot" to proceed with the planned negotiations".

What can I say instead of "made it moot"?

Alternatives include "rendered it irrelevant", "made it unnecessary", or "nullified its effect" depending on the specific context.

Is "made moot" formal or informal?

The phrase "made it moot" is generally considered neutral and suitable for use in both formal and informal contexts, though it's more commonly found in professional or news-related writing.