make it be

USAGE SUMMARY

'make it be' is not good usage in written English.
To make a sentence both correct and understandable, it should be written as 'make it so.' For example: "Let's make it so that we can all get together next week."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

This is because the mind and body exist and its not within our powers to make it be as we want it.

WikiHow

But the company hopes it'll have that vibe of a unified hotel chain experience in addition to being able to scale it up at the rate of a startup and be able to show investors that its ability to rapidly create new properties is what will make it be successful.

TechCrunch

Never make it be loud.

The New York Times - Arts

We go make it, be in an attack mode.

The New York Times

"But we cannot make it be used as a parachute jump".

The New York Times

You can't just make it be what you want it to be.

The New York Times

Bob Biersack, a spokesman for the F.E.C, said, "There's nothing about the Internet that would make it be treated differently".

The New York Times

"It was about just trying to make it be exactly what people looked like at that time.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Make it "is listed".

The New York Times

Make it "is now gone".

The New York Times

Recorded announcement: make it "were".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace "make it be" with more direct phrasings like "ensure it is" or "make it so" to enhance readability and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "make it be" when a simpler verb form will suffice. For example, instead of "make it be known", use "announce" or "publicize".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make it be" functions as a causative construction, attempting to express the act of bringing something into a specific state or condition. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this phrasing is grammatically awkward and not considered standard English. The examples in Ludwig reveal its usage across various contexts, often where a more direct verb could be employed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

34%

Wiki

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the expression "make it be" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. It's often used to express a desire for something to exist or occur in a specific way, but simpler and more direct phrasing is usually preferred. The phrase is most common in News & Media, Science and Wiki content. It is generally recommended to use alternatives like "make it so", "ensure it is", or more specific verbs that better convey the intended meaning. Be mindful of clarity and conciseness in your writing, particularly in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make it so

Replaces the grammatically awkward "be" with "so", indicating a desired outcome or state.

ensure it is

Uses "ensure" to emphasize the action of guaranteeing a certain condition.

make it happen

Focuses on the action of causing something to occur.

cause it to be

More formal way of expressing the action of bringing something into existence or a certain state.

arrange for it to be

Highlights the planning and preparation involved in bringing about a certain result.

contrive for it to be

Suggests a more deliberate and perhaps manipulative effort to achieve a specific outcome.

establish it as

Focuses on the act of setting something up or defining it in a certain way.

designate it as

Implies a formal or official assignment of a particular role or status.

stipulate that it be

Adds a sense of formal requirement or condition to the desired outcome.

ordain it to be

Carries a strong implication of authority or destiny in bringing about the specified result.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "make it be"?

A better alternative is to use "make it so", which is grammatically sound and widely understood to mean ensuring a certain outcome or state.

How can I improve my sentences that currently use "make it be"?

Try replacing "make it be" with stronger verbs that directly express your intended meaning. For example, instead of "make it be clear", use "clarify".

Is "make it be" ever appropriate in formal writing?

Generally, no. In formal writing, it's best to avoid "make it be" due to its awkward construction. Opt for more precise and grammatically correct alternatives.

What can I say instead of "I'm trying to make it be different"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "I'm trying to "change it"", "I'm trying to "transform it"", or "I'm trying to "improve it"".