make

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "make" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb to mean "to create or produce something." For example, "I need to make a cake for the party tonight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We're working hard over the holiday period to make the necessary adjustments to our timetable as a consequence, and to provide as much information as we can".

The Guardian - Business

Scheduled to make the 1,492km 9277 miles) journey every day except Christmas Day, the A320 plane has seen passengers delayed for as little as two minutes and as long as 12 hours and 18 minutes.

The Guardian - Money

"I think it's for women to make a choice about what clothes they wish to wear, if they wish to wear a veil that is for a woman to make a choice.

The Guardian

"All the people who form those relations to me make up my community and you assaulted every single one of them".

The Guardian

They think it's unfair to expect Germany to make an open-ended commitment to support these countries in the absence of meaningful reform.

The New York Times

Some days I don't think I'm going to make it and just feel like killing myself.

The Guardian

Jan Crosby, the head of housing at KPMG, said: "These figures make for frightening reading and show that housing affordability is no longer just a problem for lower wage earners.

The Guardian - Business

Don't contact me again you make me feel sick".

The Guardian

She added: "This is further evidence that Paterson's unwillingness to accept the science on climate change is leading him to make the wrong choices on spending cuts within his department".

The Guardian

Every VMA performance, that's what you're looking for; you're wanting to make history".

The Guardian - Music

Our goal was to make it to the final and go for the title.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make", consider the specific nuance you want to convey – creation, causation, or action – and choose the most appropriate alternative if necessary for clarity.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "make" in formal contexts. Instead, replace it with more precise verbs such as "establish", "implement", or "construct" to enhance the sophistication and clarity of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "make" is as a verb, indicating action, creation, or causation. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing its diverse applications, reaffirming its pivotal role in constructing sentences across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make" functions primarily as a verb with diverse applications encompassing creation, causation, and action. As affirmed by Ludwig, this term enjoys widespread usage across various contexts, although it's advisable to consider more precise alternatives in formal writing. The frequent presence of "make" in reputable news sources underscores its general applicability. While versatile, thoughtful word choice remains crucial for nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

create

Emphasizes the act of bringing something into existence.

produce

Focuses on the process of generating or manufacturing something.

construct

Highlights the building or assembling of something.

cause

Shifts the focus to bringing about a particular result or effect.

generate

Implies the production or creation of something, often abstract.

form

Stresses the shaping or molding of something into a specific state.

develop

Focuses on the gradual growth or evolution of something.

perform

Highlights the execution or carrying out of a task or action.

achieve

Implies the successful completion or attainment of something.

earn

Focuses on gaining something through effort or work.

FAQs

How can I use "make" in a sentence?

"Make" can be used in various contexts, such as to create something (e.g., "make a cake"), cause something (e.g., "make someone happy"), or perform an action (e.g., "make a decision").

What are some alternatives to the word "make"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "create", "produce", "cause", or "form".

Is there a difference between "make" and "create"?

"Make" is a more general term that can refer to a wide range of actions, while "create" specifically implies bringing something entirely new into existence.

Which is correct, "make a decision" or "do a decision"?

"Make a decision" is the correct and commonly used phrase. "Do a decision" is grammatically incorrect and not idiomatic.