makes sure

USAGE SUMMARY

"makes sure" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone is taking steps to ensure that something occurs or does not occur. For example, "The manager makes sure that staff follow the company's safety protocols."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Toby makes sure of that".

The New York Times - Arts

And he makes sure they happen".

The New York Times

Moore makes sure that we do.

The New Yorker

She makes sure we do too.

The New York Times

He makes sure that each joke scores.

The New York Times

She makes sure he knows the difference.

The New York Times

Nah, Sarah makes sure everyone's involved.

The Guardian

He makes sure we're always prepared.

The New York Times - Sports

She makes sure that we know.

The New York Times - Arts

Flex makes sure all the businesses connect.

The New York Times

Mr. Garcia makes sure the taxes are paid.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "makes sure", consider the level of formality required. In formal contexts, more concise synonyms like "ensures" or "guarantees" might be preferable. In informal scenarios, "makes sure" is perfectly acceptable.

Common error

While "makes sure" is widely understood, overuse in formal documents can sound repetitive or less professional. Vary your vocabulary by incorporating alternatives like "ensures", "guarantees", or "ascertains" to enhance clarity and sophistication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "makes sure" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating an action taken to ensure or guarantee a particular outcome. Ludwig AI validates the phrase's correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

23%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "makes sure" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that conveys the act of guaranteeing an outcome through proactive measures. Ludwig AI confirms its general applicability. While suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and general instructions, formal settings might benefit from more refined synonyms like "ensures" or "guarantees". Remember that "make sure" is used in the imperative or with plural subjects, and "makes sure" is used with singular third-person subjects. The phrase enjoys widespread usage, especially in news and media outlets, and it's essential to avoid overuse in formal writing for stylistic reasons.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ensures

This alternative is a more concise and formal synonym, focusing directly on guaranteeing a result.

guarantees

This alternative stresses the certainty of a particular outcome being achieved.

assures

This alternative focuses on providing confidence that something will occur as expected.

ascertains

This alternative implies a process of investigation to establish certainty.

verifies

This alternative emphasizes the act of confirming the truth or accuracy of something.

confirms

This alternative highlights the validation of an existing fact or arrangement.

takes care to

This alternative places more emphasis on the attentiveness and diligence involved in ensuring something.

sees to it that

This alternative adds a personal touch, suggesting active involvement in the process.

takes precautions to

This alternative focuses on preventive measures to secure a desired outcome.

establishes with certainty

This alternative suggests a thorough and definitive confirmation process.

FAQs

How can I use "makes sure" in a sentence?

You can use "makes sure" to indicate that someone is taking action to guarantee a specific outcome, like in the sentence: "The quality control team "makes sure" all products meet safety standards before shipping."

What is a more formal way to say "makes sure"?

In formal writing, you can replace "makes sure" with alternatives such as "ensures", "guarantees", or "ascertains" to maintain a professional tone.

Is there a difference between "make sure" and "makes sure"?

"Make sure" is used in the imperative or with plural subjects (e.g., "Make sure you lock the door"), while ""makes sure"" is used with singular third-person subjects (e.g., "He "makes sure" the report is accurate").

When is it appropriate to use "makes sure" in writing?

It's suitable in most general writing contexts, particularly where you want to emphasize the act of taking steps to secure a particular result. However, for formal or scientific documents, consider using more precise synonyms.