made it official

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made it official" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk or write about a mutual agreement that has been formalized. For example, you could say "John and I made it official and signed the contract to buy the house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Today, Dell made it official in its support for the DIY open cloud effort.

TechCrunch

Today, however, it made it official with a post on its Google+ page.

TechCrunch

He'd made it official.

The New Yorker

The summer made it official.

The New York Times - Sports

The list made it official.

The New York Times

They made it official in 2010.

Independent

Now they have made it official.

The Economist

They just haven't made it official yet".

The New York Times - Sports

Last week's Queen's speech made it official.

The Guardian

Asssemblyman Guy Gregg has made it official.

The New York Times

But that statement essentially made it official.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made it official" to indicate that a previously informal agreement, relationship, or status has been formally recognized or announced.

Common error

Avoid using "made it official" when the context requires a more nuanced description of the formalization process. For example, specifying the method by which something was formalized (e.g., "signed a contract", "issued a decree") can provide greater clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made it official" functions as a concise idiom to indicate that something has been formally declared or recognized. Ludwig AI confirms its usability for describing the act of formalizing an agreement, relationship, or status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "made it official" is a commonly used and grammatically correct idiom to express the act of formalizing something, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it signifies a transition from an informal or uncertain state to a formally recognized one. While versatile, it’s advisable to use more specific language in highly formal settings. Related phrases such as "formalized the agreement" or "confirmed the decision" can offer nuanced alternatives. Remember, "making it official" implies closure and formal acknowledgment, but be mindful of the context to ensure the most appropriate level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formalized the agreement

Focuses on the act of making an agreement official through specific actions.

confirmed the decision

Highlights the act of affirming or validating a decision that has already been made.

announced the commitment

Emphasizes the public declaration of a dedication or pledge.

ratified the treaty

Specifically refers to the formal approval of a treaty or agreement.

put it on record

Stresses the act of documenting something officially.

gave it the stamp of approval

Implies a formal endorsement or authorization.

signed on the dotted line

Focuses on the act of formally agreeing to something by signing a document.

entered into force

Describes when a law, treaty, or agreement becomes legally binding.

lodged the document

Refers to officially filing a document for record-keeping purposes.

endorsed the proposal

Highlights the formal support and approval of a proposition.

FAQs

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

You can use "made it official" to describe the act of formally confirming or announcing something that was previously uncertain or informal. For example, "They "made it official" with a press conference".

What are some alternatives to "made it official"?

Alternatives include phrases like "formalized the agreement", "confirmed the decision", or "announced the commitment", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "made it official" in formal writing?

While "made it official" is generally acceptable, more formal alternatives like "ratified the treaty" or "entered into force" might be more suitable for academic or professional contexts.

What does "made it official" imply?

"Made it official" implies a transition from an informal or uncertain state to a formally recognized or declared one, often through a specific action or announcement.