make to work

USAGE SUMMARY

"make to work" is not a grammatically correct phrase.
It is a common mistake for non-native English speakers to use "make to" instead of the infinitive form of the verb. The correct phrase is "make something work." For example: - I need you to make this computer work. - Can you make the printer work? - The mechanic made the car work like new. Note: "Make to work" could potentially be used as part of a longer sentence, such as "I need to make this machine to work faster," but even in this case, it would be more natural to say "I need to make this machine work faster."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

This would knock out one favorite object of citizen outrage — the costly pilgrimage the European Parliament must make to work in Strasbourg, France, for one week every month.

The New York Times

Yet, there is growing awareness internationally about how much contributions individual countries make to work on the refugee crisis.

Asian Journal of German and European Studies

Don't expect any changes you make to work overnight.

WikiHow

If you're using an older system, you'll find that you are unable to get the game you make to work on your computer.

WikiHow

Instead, work to make your business healthy.

Forbes

"They were hard work to make.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The economics can be made to work.

The Economist

Not everything can be made to work.

The New York Times

They were made to work, though.

The Guardian - Sport

Made to work hard by Clyne.

The Guardian - Sport

They are made to work harder than any Syrian houseworker.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to express that you are causing something to function correctly, use the correct phrase "make it work" or "make something work".

Common error

Do not use the phrase "make to work" as it is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use the correct form: "make it work" or "make something work".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make to work" is an ungrammatical attempt to express the action of causing something to function or operate effectively. As Ludwig AI points out, this is a common error. The correct phrasing would be "make something work".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "make to work" appears in some sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct forms are "make it work" or "make something work". It's intended purpose is to convey the idea of causing something to function effectively. You can find it used in news, wiki pages and scientific contexts, but with low frequency, suggesting it's not a common expression. Remember to use grammatically correct alternatives to maintain clarity and professionalism in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make it work

Corrects the grammar by adding the pronoun "it" to function as the object of "make".

make something work

This specifies a more general form of the expression by using "something" as a placeholder.

get something to work

Uses "get" instead of "make", implying effort or persuasion to achieve functionality.

ensure something works

Focuses on guaranteeing functionality rather than the act of causing it.

cause something to function

Replaces "make" with "cause" and "work" with "function", increasing formality.

bring something into operation

Implies starting or initiating the functionality of something, changing the focus slightly.

render something functional

Uses "render" to mean "make" and "functional" instead of "work", increasing formality and technicality.

make operational

Shortens the phrase while keeping the intent of getting something to work.

repair to working order

Emphasizes fixing something so that it works.

devise a solution

Focuses on creating a solution in order to achieve something.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "make to work"?

The grammatically correct ways to express this idea are "make it work" or "make something work". The phrase "make to work" is not considered standard English.

How can I use "make it work" in a sentence?

You can use "make it work" in a sentence like this: "The team needed to be creative to make it work with the limited resources available."

What does "make something work" mean?

The phrase "make something work" means to cause something to function correctly or to be effective. It often implies effort or ingenuity to achieve the desired result.

Is "make to work" ever correct in English?

No, "make to work" is generally not considered grammatically correct in standard English. You should instead use "make it work" or "make something work".