Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

make sure it doesn't happen
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We must make sure it doesn't happen".

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

But we have to make sure it doesn't happen again".

News & Media

The New York Times

"And someone has to make sure it doesn't happen again.

News & Media

The New York Times

"We want to make sure it doesn't happen again.

News & Media

The New York Times - Sports

We can just try to make sure it doesn't happen".

News & Media

The New York Times

We want to find a way in which to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Academia

Columbia University

"When you know what's going on, you try to make sure it doesn't happen again.

News & Media

The New York Times - Sports

"We have to find out why and make sure it doesn't happen again".

News & Media

Independent

I don't see anything but people trying to make sure it doesn't happen again".

News & Media

The New York Times - Sports

"Just to make sure it doesn't happen, we're going to make a rule against it".

News & Media

The New York Times

"We're going to do all it takes to make sure it doesn't happen again.

News & Media

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair it with 'again' to specifically address past mistakes, or leave it as is to discuss general risk mitigation.

Common error

While "make sure it doesn't happen" is excellent for communication, it can be risky in legal contracts where it might be interpreted as an absolute warranty. In such cases, prefer 'use best efforts to prevent' to mitigate liability.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

93%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make sure it doesn't happen" functions as an objective complement construction where 'make' is the causative verb, 'sure' is the predicative adjective, and the following clause serves as the specific condition being ensured. As seen in Ludwig, it often appears as an infinitive goal after verbs like 'trying to' or 'want to'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki & General Advice

10%

Less common in

Academia

Science

Social Media

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make sure it doesn't happen" is a staple of English discourse when addressing errors or risk management. Ludwig's data shows that it is favored by high-tier news organizations and professional institutions to convey a sense of active responsibility. While it is perfectly correct and versatile, writers should consider the formality of their audience—choosing "ensure it does not recur" for official reports while maintaining "make sure it doesn't happen" for direct, impactful communication. Overall, it is an essential tool for expressing commitment to a specific, preventative outcome.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ensure it does not recur

More formal version suitable for corporate reports or official statements.

prevent it from happening again

Explicitly emphasizes the act of prevention and future repetition.

see that it doesn't happen

A slightly more idiomatic and directive variation.

guarantee it will not happen

Offers a stronger, more absolute level of assurance.

make certain it is not repeated

Increases emphasis on the certainty of the outcome.

take steps to prevent it

Focuses on the actions being taken rather than just the outcome.

keep it from occurring

A concise alternative using 'keep' to denote ongoing prevention.

ensure that this is avoided

Shifts the focus to the specific event using a passive structure.

guard against its recurrence

Professional phrasing often used in risk management contexts.

check that it does not take place

Implies a monitoring or verification process is in place.

FAQs

How to use "make sure it doesn't happen" in a sentence?

You can use it to express a goal or commitment, such as: "We are investigating the error to make sure it doesn't happen again."

What can I say instead of "make sure it doesn't happen"?

Depending on the tone, you can use "ensure it does not recur" for formal documents or "prevent it from happening" for a more direct approach.

Is "make sure it doesn't happen" too informal for business?

No, it is widely used in high-level business journalism and management. However, if you need extreme formality, "guarantee prevention" or "ensure non-occurrence" are alternatives.

What is the difference between "make sure" and "ensure" in this context?

They are largely interchangeable, but "ensure it doesn't happen" is considered slightly more formal than the phrase with 'make sure'.

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

93%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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make sure it doesn't happenGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

make sure it doesn't happen
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples