makes believe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "makes believe" is not correct in standard written English; the correct expression is "makes believe" should be "makes believe" or "make-believe." You can use it when referring to the act of pretending or imagining something that is not real, often in the context of play or storytelling.
Example: "Children often engage in make-believe games where they create imaginary worlds and characters."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Cloud computing makes believe that physical location is irrelevant.

MIT Technology Review

Miller picks out a hoffbrau in Eight-sixth street, and makes believe he's been there before.

The New Yorker

He makes believe he is Mrs. Johnson in darkest Africa, and she pretends that she is cranking a camera, taking shot of the animals he is shooting.

The New Yorker

It makes believe that sovereign control of borders and currency and tariffs is the key to hope and prosperity.

BBC

The myth-telling functions as a prop constraining how the "Apollo" game of make-believe has to be played; a person who makes believe that Apollo is a rock-star is not playing the game correctly, or is perhaps playing another game.

SEP

That makes "believe me" a double-edged sword for Trump, she said.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Movie violence is make believe.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Get dressed to make believe".

The New York Times - Books

We can make believe.

The New York Times

I make believe on a professional basis.

The New York Times - Books

It wasn't make believe.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to pretending, use the term "make-believe" or rephrase your sentence to use "pretend" or "simulate" to ensure grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "makes believes" in academic or professional contexts. Replace it with "make-believe" when referring to pretense, or rephrase to use verbs like "pretends" or "simulates" for clarity and correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "makes believes" is generally grammatically incorrect; the correct expressions are either "makes believe" or "make-believe." The primary grammatical function varies depending on which expression is used, where "make-believe" functions as a noun or adjective. As Ludwig AI indicates, the initial phrase isn't standard.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "makes believes" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. The proper expression is either the verb phrase "makes believe" or the noun/adjective "make-believe." As Ludwig AI also points out, "makes believes" isn't considered standard. When writing, be mindful of the grammatical context and purpose. "Make-believe" typically indicates the act of pretending or something unreal, and it's best to use the correct form to ensure clarity and credibility. Using alternatives like "pretends" or "simulates" can also improve your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pretends

Simple verb indicating the act of pretending.

feigns

Similar to pretends but suggests a more deliberate act of deception.

simulates

Suggests a more elaborate or technical form of pretending, often to replicate reality.

creates the illusion

Focuses on the act of generating a false impression.

gives the impression

Highlights the act of unintentionally leading someone to believe something.

fosters the belief

Focuses on actively promoting a particular belief, whether true or false.

tricks into believing

Emphasizes the act of deception to cause belief.

deceives into thinking

Highlights misleading someone into a specific thought or conclusion.

fabricates

Suggests inventing or creating something false.

concocts

Similar to fabricates, implying the invention of a story or plan.

FAQs

How do I properly use "make-believe" in a sentence?

Use "make-believe" as a noun (referring to the act of pretending) or as an adjective (describing something that is not real). For example: "Children engage in "make-believe" games." or "The story was pure "make-believe"."

What's the difference between "make-believe" and "pretend"?

"Pretend" is a verb that means to act as if something is true when it is not. "Make-believe" is a noun or adjective referring to the act of pretending or something that is not real. You can "pretend" to be a superhero in a game of "make-believe".

Is "makes believe" grammatically correct?

No, "makes believes" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It is better to use ""make-believe"" (as a noun or adjective) or to rephrase the sentence using verbs like "pretends" or "simulates".

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "makes believe"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "pretends", "feigns", "simulates", or "creates the illusion".