makes us even

USAGE SUMMARY

'makes us even' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to suggest that a situation has been resolved or balanced out. For example, "I owed you twenty dollars, but now that you've bought me lunch, it makes us even."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

I hope that makes us even.

The New York Times

That's what makes us even more special.

The New York Times - Sports

Which makes us even luckier, given that indoor steak-grilling season is here for real.

The New York Times - Food

"We're hurt but this makes us even more determined," Klopp continued.

The Guardian - Sport

The opposite is the case and it makes us even more determined.

The Guardian - Sport

"I think she thought that none of us did very good, so that makes us even, I guess," Dimitrov said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

So that should make us even".

The New Yorker

"Us losing two receivers, it made us even closer.

The New York Times - Sports

On the contrary, it made us even more afraid.

The New Yorker

DVD's are making us even more acceptable in society.

The New York Times - Arts

It disturbed us and silenced us, making us even more reticent in the modern world.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "makes us even" to denote a sense of restored balance, whether in tangible exchanges, emotional debts, or competitive scenarios. It’s most effective when there's a clear understanding of the initial imbalance being addressed.

Common error

Avoid using "makes us even" in situations where there was no prior imbalance or exchange. Overusing it can sound transactional and diminish the sense of genuine resolution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "makes us even" functions as a declarative statement, indicating that a situation has been balanced or resolved. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and it serves to communicate a sense of fairness or restored equilibrium after some prior imbalance or transaction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "makes us even" is grammatically correct and used to indicate a sense of restored balance or resolution, as validated by Ludwig AI. While versatile, its usage is most appropriate in contexts where a clear imbalance has been addressed. It appears primarily in News & Media. When writing, use it to effectively convey a sense of fairness in transactional or relational contexts. Consider more formal alternatives when in professional or academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

levels the playing field

Indicates the creation of fair and equitable conditions for all participants.

brings us to par

This suggests reaching a level of equality or equivalence.

puts us on equal footing

Highlights the act of creating or restoring equality in a relationship or situation.

balances the score

Emphasizes the idea of equalizing a prior imbalance, particularly in competitive contexts.

equalizes our position

Focuses on making positions or statuses equivalent.

redresses the imbalance

Highlights the act of correcting an unfair or unequal situation.

settles the account

Implies that a debt or obligation has been cleared, leading to a balanced state.

restores equilibrium

Implies that a previous state of imbalance has been corrected and a balanced state achieved.

achieves reciprocity

Indicates that actions or gestures have been reciprocated, creating a balanced exchange.

neutralizes the effect

Focuses on counteracting or negating an influence to bring a situation back to a balanced state.

FAQs

How can I use "makes us even" in a sentence?

You can use "makes us even" to indicate that a situation has been balanced out. For example, "I paid for dinner last time, so you paying this time "makes us even"".

What does "makes us even" mean?

"Makes us even" means to restore balance or equality after a previous imbalance or debt. It suggests a sense of resolution and fairness.

What can I say instead of "makes us even"?

You can use alternatives like "brings us to par", "levels the playing field", or "puts us on equal footing" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use the phrase "makes us even"?

While grammatically correct, using "makes us even" might not always be appropriate. Consider the context; it works best when referring to a tangible exchange or obligation. In more sensitive situations, alternatives might be more suitable.