making

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, often as a gerund or present participle to indicate the act of creating or causing something to happen. Example: "Making a decision can be challenging when there are so many options to consider."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The grievances aren't unreasonable, on either side, but the focus on fairness, by making it harder to reach any kind of agreement at all, could prove disastrous.

The New York Times

Neil Craig, head of operations for HSE in the Midlands, said that a specialist team of inspectors were at the scene in Staffordshire making inquiries.

The Guardian

"Perhaps not everyone's priority is having a 'beach body' (by the way, what is that?), and making somebody feel guilty for not prioritising it by questioning their personal choices is a step too far.

The Guardian

Others made millions of dollars making him richer.

The New York Times

It is making things worse, not better.

The Guardian

"He is the outstanding football presenter of his generation, combining great authority from his very distinguished playing career with wonderful broadcasting instincts and sharpness – making him a true star performer".

The Guardian - Sport

He told Channel 4 News: "I've told you the first I became aware of this, and this is already on the public record, was when I received a phone call on Friday afternoon from a journalist making me aware of it".

The Guardian

"Our energy market reforms are about making the market more competitive, but also recognising that not just consumers but also businesses have been paying too much for their bills, and we're introducing a temporary price freeze to help consumers.

The Guardian - Money

The purpose of this project was to start a conversation with young people and engage them in making something – we now have nearly 50,000 of them to date.

The Guardian

They knew he was making a mess of government and had lost support in the caucus.

The Guardian

Mo will be making judgments about that now.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "making", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you mean creating something new, causing an effect, or progressing towards a state. Clarity will enhance your writing's precision.

Common error

Be careful not to use "making" in overly vague contexts. Instead of saying "making progress", specify the area of progress, such as "making progress in research" or "making headway with the project".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "making" is as a verb, specifically the present participle or gerund form of "make". This form is used to indicate continuous action or to function as a noun, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "making" functions primarily as a verb, indicating continuous action, creation, or causation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and prevalent across numerous contexts, especially within news and media. While "making" is versatile, ensure clarity by specifying the subject of creation or effect. Alternatives such as "creating" or "producing" may offer more precision depending on your intended meaning. By considering these nuances, you can effectively use "making" to enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Creating

Focuses more on the act of bringing something new into existence.

Producing

Emphasizes the process of manufacturing or generating something.

Forming

Highlights the act of shaping or structuring something.

Constructing

Suggests a more deliberate and structured building process.

Generating

Implies the creation or production of something, often in a systematic way.

Developing

Focuses on the gradual growth or advancement of something.

Causing

Emphasizes the act of bringing about a particular result.

Bringing about

Highlights the act of causing something to happen or exist.

Enacting

Suggests putting something into action or effect.

Performing

Emphasizes the execution or carrying out of an action.

FAQs

How can I use "making" in a sentence?

"Making" can be used as a verb in various forms. For example, "She is making a cake", "He was making excuses", or "They are making progress".

What are some alternatives to "making"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "creating", "producing", "forming", or "constructing".

Is it correct to say "making good" or "doing good"?

Both phrases have different meanings. "Making good" typically means compensating for a loss or mistake, while "doing good" refers to performing acts of kindness or charity.

What's the difference between "making" and "taking"?

"Making" implies creating or causing something, while "taking" implies acquiring or removing something. For example, you "making a cake" and "taking a picture".