make an interest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make an interest" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be a misunderstanding of the expression "make an interest in," which is used to indicate developing a curiosity or engagement in a subject. Example: "I want to make an interest in learning more about environmental science."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

One miscalculation could leave the Treasury without enough money to make an interest payment.

The Economist

The data appears to make an interest rate increase by the Federal Reserve later this month less likely.

The New York Times

Atlantic Express said on Aug. 1 that it failed to make an interest payment on a loan.

The New York Times

For those it keeps, bank officials say, it will often make an interest rate adjustment to an existing loan or waive certain fees to keep a customer's business.

The New York Times

Cirio, Italy's biggest canned-food producer, failed to make an interest payment on an unrated bond that had been sold six months earlier.

The New York Times

When Trump needed to make an interest payment on the loans, his father, Fred, sent a lawyer to another Trump casino, the Trump Castle, to buy $3.3 million in chips.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

American share prices fell sharply on June 5th and 6th as investors priced in the risk that stronger growth would make an interest-rate cut less likely.

The Economist

American share prices fell sharply on Wednesday June 6th, after a similar decline the day before, as investors priced in the risk that stronger growth would make an interest-rate cut less likely.

The Economist

Countries can be fined up to 0.2% of GDP for fraudulent statistics on deficits and debt and be forced to make an interest-bearing deposit (0.1% of GDP) if they fail to act on recommendations to remove "excessive imbalances".

The Guardian - Business

Analysts said the figures made an interest rate rise in the near future less likely.

The Guardian - Business

BRAZIL'S presidential candidates participate in a final debate, Argentina makes an interest payment on its debts and Britain's Conservatives hold their annual party conference.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to express the beginning of curiosity or engagement, replace the phrase "make an interest" with "develop an interest" or "take an interest in" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

A common error is using "make" instead of "take" or "develop" when expressing interest. Avoid saying "make an interest" and opt for "take an interest in" or "develop an interest" to conform to standard English usage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make an interest" is typically intended to express the act of developing or showing curiosity or engagement in something. However, according to Ludwig AI, this phrasing is not considered standard English. Instead, more appropriate alternatives include "take an interest in" or "develop an interest".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "make an interest" appears in some sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The intended meaning is to express the development of curiosity or engagement. Standard English alternatives such as "develop an interest" or "take an interest in" should be used instead to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness, especially in formal and professional contexts. Although the phrase appears across a variety of sources, ranging from news media to wikis, it is crucial to favor the suggested alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

develop an interest

Replaces "make" with "develop", a more grammatically standard verb for expressing the beginning of interest.

cultivate an interest

Uses "cultivate" to suggest a more active and intentional development of interest.

foster an interest

Similar to "cultivate", but implies nurturing and supporting the growth of interest.

take an interest in

Focuses on directing one's attention and curiosity toward a specific subject or activity.

show an interest in

Indicates displaying existing curiosity or engagement, rather than its initial development.

express an interest in

Highlights the communication of one's interest, either verbally or through actions.

become interested in

Emphasizes the process of transitioning to a state of curiosity or engagement.

gain an interest in

Suggests acquiring interest as a result of exposure or experience.

spark an interest in

Implies an external stimulus caused the interest to arise.

find something interesting

Shifts the focus to the object or subject that elicits interest.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say you are starting to be interested in something?

Instead of the grammatically incorrect phrase "make an interest", use phrases like "develop an interest" or "take an interest in".

Is it grammatically correct to say "make an interest"?

No, "make an interest" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct phrasing would be to use verbs like "develop" or "take", such as in "develop an interest" or "take an interest in".

What are some alternatives to "make an interest"?

Better alternatives to "make an interest" include phrases like "cultivate an interest", "foster an interest", or simply "become interested in".

How can I show that I am interested in something?

To show interest, you can "express an interest in" the subject or "take an interest in" learning more about it. Avoid using the phrase "make an interest", as it is not grammatically sound.