make any sense

USAGE SUMMARY

"make any sense" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are asking whether something is understandable or logical. For example: "His argument didn't make any sense to me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Does that make any sense?

The New York Times

It doesn't make any sense".

The New York Times

That doesn't make any sense".

The New York Times - Arts

He doesn't make any sense".

The New York Times

It wouldn't make any sense.

The New Yorker

It didn't make any sense.

The New York Times

Make any sense?

University of California, Berkeley

"But that doesn't make any sense.

The New York Times

The VMAs don't make any sense.

The New Yorker

The movement doesn't make any sense.

The New York Times

This really doesn't make any sense.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make any sense" when you want to express that something is illogical, confusing, or lacks coherence. For example, "The instructions didn't make any sense, so I couldn't assemble the furniture."

Common error

Avoid using "make any sense" when you simply disagree with something. The phrase implies a lack of logical coherence, not merely a difference in opinion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make any sense" typically functions as a predicate in a sentence, expressing whether something is logical, understandable, or coherent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely usable. It often appears in questions or negative statements to express confusion or disbelief.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make any sense" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to question or deny the logic or comprehensibility of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's suitable for various contexts, from casual conversations to more formal discussions, and is widely found in news media and academic writing. While versatile, it's important to use it accurately, ensuring it reflects a genuine lack of logical coherence rather than a simple disagreement. Alternatives like "be logical" or "be comprehensible" may be more appropriate in specific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make head or tail of

Indicates a complete inability to understand something.

add up

Implies that the details or facts of a situation do not form a coherent whole.

be comprehensible

Highlights the understandability of something, without directly addressing its coherence.

hold water

Suggests that an argument or explanation is not valid or sound.

be intelligible

Stresses the quality of being easily understood.

be logical

Focuses on the logical aspect, omitting the element of comprehension.

be coherent

Emphasizes the quality of being logically connected and consistent.

stand to reason

Highlights the rationality and logical justification of a statement.

compute

Emphasizes the mental processing aspect of understanding.

register

Refers to something failing to make an impression or be understood.

FAQs

How can I use "make any sense" in a sentence?

You can use "make any sense" to express that something is illogical or incomprehensible. For example, "His explanation didn't "make any sense" to me."

What's a more formal way to say "make any sense"?

In a more formal context, you could say "be logically coherent" or "be comprehensible" to convey a similar meaning as ""make any sense"".

Which is correct: "Does this make any sense?" or "Does this makes any sense?"

"Does this "make any sense"?" is the correct phrasing. The verb "make" should be used in its base form after the auxiliary verb "does".

What does it mean when someone says something "doesn't make any sense"?

When someone says something "doesn't "make any sense"", they mean it is illogical, irrational, or difficult to understand.