make a habit

USAGE SUMMARY

"make a habit" is a very commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone forming or developing a consistent pattern of behavior. For example: "It's important to make a habit of brushing your teeth twice a day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Just don't make a habit of it.

The New York Times

Don't make a habit of it".

The New York Times

Mr. Wells doesn't plan to make a habit of this.

The New York Times

I like to make a habit of beating legends anyway".

Independent

It may have to make a habit of it.

The Economist

But I won't make a habit of using it.

Harvard University

Make a habit of closing your laptop while you're helping.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"I won't make a habit of this," Girardi said.

The New York Times - Sports

Though I wouldn't want to make a habit of it.

Independent

We must make a habit of investigating them.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It's not something I'd make a habit of.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When encouraging someone to adopt a beneficial behavior, use "make a habit" to emphasize the importance of consistency, such as "make a habit of reviewing your budget monthly."

Common error

While "make a habit" is versatile, overuse in negative contexts can sound repetitive. Instead of saying "don't make a habit of being late", consider alternatives like "avoid being late regularly" or "ensure punctuality."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a habit" functions as a verb phrase indicating the establishment or adoption of a recurring behavior or routine. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage, reflecting its integration into standard English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

33%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make a habit" is a commonly used phrase to describe the process of adopting a routine or consistent behavior. Ludwig AI confirms that it is considered grammatically correct and is applicable across various contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Wiki sources. While its register is generally neutral, it’s important to consider stylistic alternatives like "develop a routine" or "form a practice" to prevent overuse, particularly in negative contexts. When encouraging a positive change, "make a habit" serves as a clear and direct way to emphasize the importance of consistency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

develop a routine

Focuses on the process of creating a regular pattern of behavior.

form a practice

Implies a conscious decision to adopt a particular behavior regularly.

cultivate a tendency

Suggests nurturing a natural inclination into a consistent behavior.

get into the swing of

Emphasizes the ease and naturalness of adopting a new habit over time.

adopt a custom

Highlights the social or cultural aspect of establishing a habit.

establish a pattern

Stresses the structured and predictable nature of a habitual behavior.

get used to

Implies becoming accustomed to something, leading to it becoming a habit.

fall into the way of

Suggests a gradual and almost unintentional development of a habit.

become accustomed to

Highlights the process of adaptation that leads to a habitual behavior.

build a tradition

Emphasizes the creation of a lasting and often meaningful habit.

FAQs

How can I use "make a habit" in a sentence?

You can use "make a habit" to suggest the importance of regularly performing an action, such as "You should "make a habit" of backing up your files".

What are some alternatives to "make a habit"?

Alternatives include phrases like "develop a routine", "form a practice", or "cultivate a tendency", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "make a habit of" or "get into the habit of"?

Both "make a habit of" and "get into the habit of" are correct and have similar meanings, but "make a habit of" might suggest a more conscious and deliberate effort to start doing something regularly.

How long does it take to "make a habit"?

While the exact time varies from person to person and habit to habit, some studies suggest it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days to form a new habit. Consistency is key to successfully "make a habit".