make certain of

USAGE SUMMARY

"make certain of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to confirm or guarantee something. For example: "I need to make certain of my plans before I can commit to the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

"We will continue to monitor the insurers' performance to make certain of that".

The New York Times

I mean, one's got to get up in the morning thinking of a deviant act, merely to make certain of one's freedom.

The New York Times - Books

A DAY after the mobile phone celebrated its 40th birthday, Facebook has produced something that it hopes will make certain of the devices even more useful.

The Economist

We bend over backward to make certain of this! PETER INCARDONE JR. Chairman Bergen County Board of Elections Hackensack, N.J., Nov. 21, 2000.

The New York Times

And that is why our intelligence community took time, that's why the president took time to make certain of the facts … in order to scrub and rescrub the evidence and present the facts to the American people.

The Guardian - Opinion

To make certain of that Mark Hughes's side will have to improve on this display, with the visitors organised but utterly blunt in attack, summed up by their best chance when, late on, Marko Arnautovic found space in the Chelsea area but made a hash of controlling Steven Nzonzi's long pass.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

John Paul's defender of the faith, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, made certain of that.

The New Yorker

It was not until the 85th minute, however that England made certain of the victory.

The Guardian - Sport

The Republic and the Constitution rose again, phoenixlike, from the conflagration of civil war, but President Lincoln did not — Booth made certain of that.

The New York Times - Books

A big reason this unpleasantness affixes so readily to Mr. Mack is that his political opponents have made certain of it.

The New York Times

"This was an opportunity of piling on the agony," wrote Nourse, "and making certain of victory by leaving England an impossible total".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make certain of" when you want to emphasize the importance of confirming or ensuring something to avoid potential negative consequences.

Common error

While grammatically sound, overuse of "make certain of" can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "ensure", "verify", or "confirm" where appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make certain of" functions as a verb phrase used to express the action of ensuring or confirming something. As Ludwig AI exemplifies, it's often used when a speaker or writer wants to emphasize the importance of verification.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make certain of" is a versatile and commonly used expression for emphasizing the importance of ensuring or confirming something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for various contexts, with a neutral register. While it's a valuable phrase to have in your writing toolkit, remember to vary your language and consider synonyms like "ensure" or "verify" to avoid sounding repetitive. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources, showcasing its widespread use in conveying the importance of confirmation and accuracy. It is also used in scientific articles and in wiki articles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make sure

A more informal and direct alternative.

ensure

A more concise synonym for "make certain of".

assure

Implies removing doubt and giving confidence.

guarantee

Suggests a formal promise or assurance.

verify

Emphasizes the process of checking or confirming something is true.

confirm

Implies establishing the truth or correctness of something previously uncertain.

ascertain

Suggests discovering something definitively through investigation.

double-check

Implies a second verification to prevent errors.

certify

Indicates an official endorsement or confirmation.

determine

Emphasizes the act of finding something out with certainty.

FAQs

How can I use "make certain of" in a sentence?

You can use "make certain of" to express the need to confirm or ensure something. For example, "I need to make certain of my flight reservation before I leave for the airport."

What's a more informal way to say "make certain of"?

A more informal way to say "make certain of" is to use "make sure". For example, "Make sure you lock the door when you leave."

Which is correct, "make certain of" or "be certain of"?

Both "make certain of" and "be certain of" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Make certain of" implies taking action to confirm something, while "be certain of" describes a state of confidence or knowledge.

What can I say instead of "make certain of" in a formal context?

In a formal context, you can use alternatives like "ensure", "verify", or "confirm" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.