make a measurement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make a measurement" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the process of determining a measurement, such as length, width, or depth. For example, "I need to make a measurement of the room before I purchase the new furniture."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The limiting features in SANS experiment design are the length of time required to make a measurement and the minimum momentum transfer Q that can be measured, and the resolution.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

I remember realizing when I was a student that I could make a measurement of an object in the sky, and how extraordinary that felt to me, as if it were a way of reaching out and connecting with something so far away.

The New York Times

For the coupon treated with CIA, there was no corrosion inhibitor left, so one was unable to make a measurement of its thickness.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

The craft is about to make a measurement so precise that the infinitesimal drift of its guidestar--a binary in the constellation Pegasus--would ruin the experiment.

Science Magazine

Oddly, the trick is to make a measurement of each photon's momentum that is so weak it reveals essentially nothing about it.

Science Magazine

A distinct bifurcation in the size v. time plots demarcates these regions, though the exact timing of this is only roughly constrained as the first interval the DLS is able to make a measurement.

Geochemical Transactions

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Just as a ghostly mixture of quantum possibilities snaps into actuality only when an observer makes a measurement, so too a human action takes on a determinate meaning only when a narrator molds a plausible explanation for it.

The New York Times - Books

"We're saying that we made a measurement that is about a thousandth the diameter of a proton, that tells us about two black holes that merged over a billion years ago," Reitze said.

The New Yorker

Bohr agrees that the indirect measurement of Niels' system achieved when one makes a measurement of Albert's system does not involve any "mechanical disturbance" of Niels' system.

SEP

They simply let the carbon atoms naturally lose touch with each other and assume a definite state, a process identical to making a measurement.

Science Magazine

Costa uses an instrument called an electron microprobe to map the chemical variations along the crystal faces, making a measurement every few microns.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical writing, pair "make a measurement" with specific details about the tools or methods used for clarity, for example, "make a measurement using a digital caliper".

Common error

Avoid using "make a measurement" when you mean to simply "estimate" or "assess" something. "Make a measurement" implies a degree of precision that estimation lacks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a measurement" functions as a verb phrase where "make" is the verb and "a measurement" is the direct object. It describes the action of performing a specific act of quantifying or measuring something. Ludwig AI indicates that this is correct and standard usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make a measurement" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe the action of quantifying something. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct. While alternatives such as ""take a measurement"" exist, the choice often depends on context and personal preference. The phrase is frequently found in scientific, news, and general contexts, highlighting its versatility. Remember to use it when precise quantification is intended and avoid confusion with simple estimations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take a measurement

Uses "take" instead of "make", slightly changing the action's emphasis but retaining the core meaning.

perform a measurement

Replaces "make" with "perform", adding a slightly more formal tone.

obtain a measurement

Substitutes "make" with "obtain", focusing on the result of the measuring process.

conduct a measurement

Uses "conduct" in place of "make", suggesting a more methodical or scientific approach.

carry out a measurement

Replaces "make" with "carry out", indicating a process or task being completed.

determine a measurement

Substitutes "make" with "determine", emphasizing the discovery or establishment of the measurement's value.

acquire a measurement

Uses "acquire" instead of "make", highlighting the act of gaining the measurement.

establish a measurement

Replaces "make" with "establish", suggesting the setting or fixing of a particular measurement.

ascertain a measurement

Substitutes "make" with "ascertain", indicating a confirmation or verification of the measurement.

gauge something

Uses the verb "gauge" instead of the phrase "make a measurement", implying an estimation or evaluation.

FAQs

What does "make a measurement" mean?

The phrase "make a measurement" refers to the act of determining the size, amount, or degree of something by using an instrument or device. It implies a process of obtaining quantitative data.

How to use "make a measurement" in a sentence?

You can use "make a measurement" to describe an action taken to quantify something. For example, "The scientist had to "take a measurement" before proceeding with the experiment."

What can I say instead of "make a measurement"?

Alternatives to "make a measurement" include phrases like ""take a measurement"", "perform a measurement", or "obtain a measurement", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "take a measurement" or "make a measurement"?

Both "make a measurement" and ""take a measurement"" are grammatically correct and widely used. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference, as they carry nearly identical meanings.