make a contribution to

USAGE SUMMARY

"make a contribution to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an attempt to give or add something to a larger cause or effort. For example: "We are asking everyone to make a contribution to our charity drive so that we can reach our goal of helping those in need."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Make a contribution to others.

Harvard Business Review

Make a contribution to a land trust.

The New York Times

I was proud to make a contribution to history.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There are many ways to make a contribution to HDS.

Harvard University

Make a contribution to the scholarship of the field.

Cornell University

This study seeks to make a contribution to evolutionary science.

Language Sciences

make a contribution to the package for Cyprus.

The New York Times

I'm trying to make a contribution to the team, and I wasn't.

The New York Times - Sports

University students should make a contribution to the cost of their education.

The Guardian

I like to think I can make a contribution to making them better.

The Guardian - Business

Ours is an honourable activity, and we make a contribution to the culture.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make a contribution to", be specific about the area or cause you are supporting. For example, specify the organization, project, or field that will benefit from your contribution. This clarifies the impact of your effort.

Common error

Avoid using "make a contribution to" without clearly specifying what exactly is being contributed. A vague statement lacks impact. Instead of saying "I want to make a contribution to society", specify how, such as "I want to "make a contribution to" environmental conservation by volunteering for local cleanup projects".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a contribution to" functions as a verb phrase, expressing the act of providing or adding something beneficial to a specific cause, entity, or field. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its use in diverse contexts, confirming its broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Academia

22%

Science

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make a contribution to" is a versatile and widely used expression to denote the act of providing support or adding value to a cause, project, or field. As highlighted by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and appears frequently across diverse contexts like news, academia, and science. While alternatives like "contribute to", "donate to", and "assist with" exist, specifying the nature and beneficiary of the contribution enhances clarity. To maximize the impact, specify what or how are you contributing. The use of this phrase in various settings shows its adaptability and broad understanding, reinforcing its importance in effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contribute to

A shorter, more direct way of saying "make a contribution to".

donate to

Focuses specifically on giving money or goods.

give to

Similar to donate but can be broader, including time or effort.

support

Implies providing assistance or resources.

assist with

Focuses on helping with a task or project.

lend a hand to

An informal way of offering help.

add to

Implies increasing something by providing an element.

play a part in

Focuses on having an involvement in something.

have a hand in

Similar to play a part but suggests a more active role.

chip in for

Informal; focuses on contributing a small amount, often financially.

FAQs

What does "make a contribution to" mean?

The phrase "make a contribution to" means to give or provide something, whether it's time, money, effort, or ideas, to help or support a particular cause, project, or group.

How can I use "make a contribution to" in a sentence?

You can use "make a contribution to" by specifying what you are contributing and to whom or what you are contributing. For example, "I want to "make a contribution to" the local community by volunteering at the food bank".

What are some alternatives to "make a contribution to"?

Some alternatives include "contribute to", "donate to", "give to", "support", or "assist with" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "make a contribution to" or "contribute to"?

Both "make a contribution to" and "contribute to" are correct and commonly used. "Contribute to" is shorter and more direct, while "make a contribution to" can sound slightly more formal, but the difference is minimal.