made no preparations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made no preparations" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that someone did not take any steps or actions to get ready for a particular event or situation. Example: "Despite the looming deadline, she made no preparations for the presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

He expected no violence and made no preparations against it.

Britannica

Ireland's prime minister, Leo Varadkar, has said his government has made "no preparations whatsoever" for a hard border on the island.

The Guardian

The Russian front was now bisected, but Falkenhayn and Conrad had foreseen no such result and had made no preparations to exploit it promptly.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Some teams had trained for weeks, logging miles on StairMasters and in their workplaces, while others had made no preparations at all.

The New York Times

Their attackers had come on foot from nearby villages and had made no preparations for a getaway, said Adebola Hamzat, chief superintendent of the Jos police.

The New York Times

Mr. Lo loaded some wedding pictures and a small suitcase of clothing into the trunk of his Mercedes-Benz but otherwise had made no preparations for a fire, aside from inviting about 20 firefighters to use his shower.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The matriarch, Sophia Cleves, is eccentric and withdrawn, doesn't seem to want her family with her, and has made no preparation for her visitors.

The New Yorker

Similarly, the likelihood for facility delivery increased by 3.4-fold among women who prepared for at least two of the four activities compared to their counterparts who made no preparation (adjusted OR 3.41, 95% CI 2.01 to 5.58).

BMJ Open

The South Koreans would have to be kept in the dark, and they could make no preparations for war.

The New York Times

3. Make no preparations whatsoever for the interview.

Vice

The committee points out that with climate change there will be more extreme weather in the UK, with more frequent and deeper floods, yet ministers are making no preparation for this.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made no preparations" to clearly indicate a lack of planning or readiness for a specific event or situation. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "made no preparations" when there were some minor attempts at preparation. This phrase emphasizes a complete absence of planning, so ensure it accurately reflects the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made no preparations" functions as a statement indicating a complete absence of planning or readiness for a particular event or situation. Ludwig provides several examples across news, encyclopedias, and scientific domains showcasing its usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

16%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "made no preparations" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a lack of planning or readiness, as confirmed by Ludwig. Appearing in diverse contexts from news reports to scientific papers, its straightforward meaning is widely understood. While grammatically correct, avoid using "made no preparations" if there were some minor attempts at preparation. Alternative phrases like "did not prepare" and "failed to prepare" offer similar meanings, so you can choose an option that best fits the tone and context of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not prepare

Directly states the absence of preparation.

failed to prepare

Highlights the failure to undertake necessary preparations.

took no precautions

Emphasizes the absence of precautionary measures.

neglected to prepare

Suggests a negligent lack of preparation.

left unprepared

Focuses on the resulting state of being unprepared.

had no plan

Indicates the absence of a formulated plan.

didn't get ready

A more informal way of saying there was no preparation.

was caught off guard

Highlights the element of surprise due to lack of preparation.

was unready

States a condition of being unready for an event or situation.

didn't lift a finger

Suggests complete inaction and absence of effort in preparation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "made no preparations" to sound more formal?

Consider using phrases such as "did not prepare", "failed to prepare", or "took no precautions" to maintain a formal tone.

Is it correct to say "made no preparations for" something?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. For example: "They "made no preparations" for the upcoming storm".

What's the difference between ""made no preparations"" and "was unprepared"?

"Made no preparations" focuses on the act of not preparing, while "was unprepared" describes the resulting state. They are often interchangeable, but "was unprepared" emphasizes the consequence.

In what situations is it inappropriate to use "made no preparations"?

Avoid using it if someone made minimal efforts. The phrase implies a complete lack of planning or readiness. Also, be mindful of the tone as it can sound accusatory.