made sure to

USAGE SUMMARY

"made sure to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to deliberately taking action to ensure that something happens. For example, "He made sure to arrive early to the meeting to secure the best seat."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But he has made sure to react swiftly and surely.

Forbes

Mr. Krolicki made sure to double-check.

The New York Times

She made sure to return it.

The New York Times - Arts

They made sure to invite some women.

The New Yorker

She made sure to get the root.

The New York Times

So Hatch made sure to look around.

The New York Times - Sports

In addition, we made sure to avoid conflicts of interest.

Cornell University

Throughout the design stage, we made sure to consider safety.

Cornell University

He made sure to show Flynn each item.

The New Yorker

As in 1986, he made sure to enjoy the journey.

The New York Times - Sports

The boss made sure to set an example.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made sure to" to clearly indicate a deliberate action taken to achieve a specific outcome. This emphasizes intention and control.

Common error

Avoid using "made sure to" in contexts where the action already implies certainty. For example, instead of "He made sure to definitely lock the door", use "He made sure to lock the door" or "He definitely locked the door".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made sure to" functions as a connector of actions, indicating that a deliberate step was taken to achieve a specific result. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "made sure to" is a versatile phrase used to convey deliberate action and intention. Ludwig AI confirms it's a grammatically sound expression, widely used across diverse contexts like news, academic papers, and general communication. While its usage is generally neutral, remember that more formal alternatives might exist. The examples show that the phrase is commonly used to emphasize that a specific step was taken to guarantee a particular outcome. To enhance clarity, avoid redundant phrasing and consider more formal alternatives where appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ensured that

This alternative directly replaces "made sure" with "ensured", providing a more concise and formal option.

took care to

This suggests a deliberate effort to handle something properly or carefully.

saw to it that

This emphasizes the act of overseeing or managing something to guarantee a specific result.

took the precaution of

Highlights the preventative aspect of the action, focusing on avoiding potential issues.

was certain to

Emphasizes the confidence and intention behind the action taken.

guaranteed that

This alternative highlights the assurance of a particular result.

ascertained that

Focuses on confirming or verifying something to be true or accurate.

verified that

Highlights the act of confirming the truth or accuracy of something.

confirmed that

Similar to "verified", but can also imply a more formal acknowledgement.

checked to see that

Emphasizes the act of inspecting or examining something to ensure it meets requirements.

FAQs

How can I use "made sure to" in a sentence?

Use "made sure to" to indicate that someone took a specific action to ensure a particular outcome, for example, "She "made sure to" lock all the doors before leaving the house".

What are some alternatives to "made sure to"?

You can use alternatives such as "ensured that", "took care to", or "saw to it that" depending on the context.

Is "made sure to" formal or informal?

"Made sure to" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "ensured that" may be preferred in certain situations.

What's the difference between "made sure to" and "made certain to"?

"Made sure to" and "made certain to" are very similar in meaning and can often be used interchangeably. However, "made certain to" might imply a slightly greater degree of assurance or determination.