made to order

USAGE SUMMARY

"made to order" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means something that is custom-made or specifically created for a particular purpose or customer. Example: "The dress was made to order, with intricate hand-stitched embroidery and a perfect fit tailored to the client's measurements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

It's made to order.

The New Yorker

Everything was made to order.

The New York Times - Sports

Everything is made to order.

The New York Times

The dim sum is made to order.

The New York Times - Food

Most dishes are made to order.

The New York Times

Here, everything is made to order.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

The shoes are made-to-order.

The Economist

All of my stuff is made to-order.

Huffington Post

It's made fresh and made-to-order.

Huffington Post

Only made-to-order shoes are sold here.

The New York Times

Made-to-order pays off: everything tastes fresh.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing food, use "made to order" to emphasize freshness and customization, assuring customers that their preferences are prioritized.

Common error

Avoid using "made to order" if the customization options are minimal. The phrase implies significant personalization, so ensure the offering aligns with this expectation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made to order" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is specifically created or prepared according to a customer's specifications. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

9%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "made to order" is a common and grammatically correct adjective phrase used to describe items customized or prepared according to individual specifications. Ludwig confirms its validity. Predominantly used in News & Media, it also appears in Formal & Business, Science and other contexts. When writing, remember it highlights customization and freshness. Ludwig's examples showcase its widespread usage, making it a valuable term for diverse writing needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

custom-made

Focuses on the aspect of being specifically designed for an individual.

bespoke

Emphasizes the tailored and high-quality nature of the product.

tailor-made

Highlights the fitting of something to specific needs.

customized

Stresses the modification to suit individual preferences.

specifically designed

Emphasizes the deliberate creation for a particular purpose.

individually prepared

Highlights that each item is made separately and uniquely.

made to specification

Stresses adherence to a detailed set of requirements.

built to order

Focuses on the construction aspect based on a specific request.

created on demand

Highlights the item is only made when requested by a customer.

personalized

Highlights the aspect of adding personal touches.

FAQs

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

You can use "made to order" to describe items that are custom-made, such as "The suit was "made to order" to fit his exact measurements".

What are some alternatives to "made to order"?

Some alternatives include "custom-made", "bespoke", or "tailor-made", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "made to order" or "custom-made"?

Both "made to order" and "custom-made" are acceptable. "Made to order" often implies the item is prepared fresh upon request, while "custom-made" emphasizes that it's designed according to personal specifications.

What does "MTO" mean in relation to "made to order"?

"MTO" is an abbreviation for "made to order", commonly used in business contexts to indicate that a product is manufactured only after an order is received.