make confident

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make confident" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not commonly used and may lead to confusion in conveying the intended meaning. Example: "The coach aimed to make confident players out of the team through rigorous training."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

The ads make confident promises like "More colors.

The New York Times

All the while, the leading firms continued to make confident claims for their industry.

The Economist

To make confident judgments of right and wrong, Howard argues, we need to revive two neglected ideas.

The New York Times - Books

A total of $20.5 million for a player who regressed in his third season and still cannot consistently make confident, strong-armed throws from the pocket?

The New York Times

Another deadly car bomb in Baghdad this week offered a reminder, if one was needed, that it will be perilously hard for him to make confident claims that things are on the mend there, even if they are.

The Economist

Postcards from the future like these make confident present-day Emma suddenly nervous, while insecure Josh finds he's more poised with the knowledge that things might just work out O.K. "It's like the discovery of his future is changing him now," Emma thinks.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Head Makes Confident Prediction | A positive prediction for the future?

The New York Times

Salads were about the freshness of the ingredients, and in this, made confident starters.

The New York Times

The most successful, in fact, making confident movies that do Hollywood-style business.

The Guardian - Film

Both sides made confident starts, keeping the ball for good spells and creating opportunities at either end.

BBC

Be confident and self-assured, which,in turn, will make him confident and self-assured.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of saying "make confident", use phrases like "build confidence", "instill confidence", or "foster confidence" to accurately express the idea of developing or imparting confidence.

Common error

Avoid using "confident" as a verb. Instead, use verbs such as "build", "instill", or "foster" with the noun "confidence" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make confident" is intended as a verb phrase aiming to describe the action of causing someone to feel confident. However, Ludwig AI marks it as incorrect, suggesting it does not adhere to standard English grammar rules. The correct form involves using "confidence" as a noun.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make confident" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's not commonly used and may lead to confusion. Instead, use alternative phrases such as "build confidence", "instill confidence", or "foster confidence" to accurately convey the intended meaning. These alternatives employ "confidence" as a noun, aligning with proper English grammar.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

build confidence

Replaces the adjective "confident" with the noun "confidence", focusing on the process of developing confidence.

instill confidence

Focuses on the act of imparting confidence to someone or something.

develop confidence

Emphasizes the gradual process of acquiring confidence.

foster confidence

Suggests nurturing and encouraging confidence to grow.

gain confidence

Highlights the individual's role in acquiring confidence.

inspire confidence

Highlights the act of arousing confidence in others.

cultivate confidence

Implies careful and sustained effort to grow confidence.

promote confidence

Focuses on actively encouraging and spreading confidence.

bolster confidence

Suggests strengthening existing confidence.

encourage confidence

Focuses on providing support to build confidence.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound way to say "make confident"?

Instead of "make confident", consider using phrases like "build confidence", "instill confidence", or "foster confidence". These alternatives use the noun "confidence" with appropriate verbs.

Is "make confident" ever correct in English?

The phrase "make confident" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "build confidence" or "instill confidence" to express the intended meaning.

How can I use "confidence" correctly in a sentence?

Use "confidence" as a noun with verbs like "build", "gain", or "show". For example, "She needs to build confidence" or "He "showed confidence" during the presentation".

What's the difference between "make confident" and "be confident"?

"Be confident" describes a state of feeling or appearing self-assured, while "make confident" is intended to describe the act of causing someone to feel that way. However, "make confident" is grammatically incorrect; use "build confidence" or a similar phrase instead.