making certain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making certain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express the act of ensuring or confirming something. Example: "I am making certain that all the details are correct before submitting the report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But you are making certain assumptions.

The Guardian - Books

But he's making certain that it leaves its mark.

The New York Times - Arts

Bend to the left, making certain your hips stay even.

The New York Times

Bureaucratic inertia, perhaps, or discomfort with making certain techniques transparent.

The New Yorker

Effective June 1, the Megawatt Hour will stop making certain features available free.

The New York Times

For 136 years, then, typing in English has meant making certain neurological associations.

The New York Times - Magazine

Now it's a question of making certain we produce on the field".

Independent

She speaks quickly at the beginning, looking away and laughing defensively when making certain statements.

The Guardian

"One's second term is a matter of looking forward, making certain that things don't go stale.

The New Yorker

For this reason, our interactive warns you about making certain extreme moves.

The New Yorker

It's really just a question of making certain you have top-of-the-line everything".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "making certain" to introduce a clause that explains the specific steps taken to achieve a desired outcome, enhancing the descriptive quality of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "making certain" as a filler phrase. Ensure it genuinely adds value by specifying what is being made certain and why it's important. Overuse can dilute the impact of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making certain" functions as a verbal phrase, typically introducing a clause that specifies the action of ensuring or confirming something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

9%

Formal & Business

8%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "making certain" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to emphasize the act of ensuring or confirming something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it enjoys widespread use across diverse contexts, from news and media to scientific writing. While alternatives like "ensuring" or "confirming" may sometimes offer greater concision, "making certain" effectively highlights the proactive effort involved in guaranteeing a desired outcome. By understanding its grammatical function, communicative purpose, and appropriate register, writers can leverage "making certain" to enhance the clarity and impact of their message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ensuring

Focuses specifically on guaranteeing an outcome or condition, simplifying the expression.

assuring

Emphasizes providing confidence or a guarantee, shifting the focus to the feeling conveyed.

confirming

Highlights the act of verifying or establishing the truth of something, with a connotation of checking information.

verifying

Stresses the act of checking or proving something to be true, carrying a tone of investigation.

ascertaining

Implies discovering something definitely, typically through investigation, suggesting a more formal tone.

guaranteeing

Focuses on providing a formal assurance or promise, suitable for contexts requiring a strong commitment.

taking care to

Emphasizes the attentiveness and effort involved in ensuring something, adding a sense of diligence.

seeing to it that

Highlights the act of personally ensuring that something is done, conveying responsibility and oversight.

establishing

Implies setting something firmly or proving it definitively, focusing on the outcome of the action.

checking to be sure

Directly conveys the act of verifying something for accuracy, adding a sense of precaution and thoroughness.

FAQs

How can I use "making certain" in a sentence?

You can use "making certain" to express the act of ensuring or confirming something. For example, "I am "ensuring" that all the details are correct before submitting the report".

What are some alternatives to "making certain"?

Alternatives include "ensuring", "assuring", or "confirming", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "making certain" or simply "ensuring"?

While both are correct, "ensuring" is often more concise and direct. "Making certain" can be used when you want to emphasize the process or effort involved in ensuring something.

What's the difference between "making certain" and "verifying"?

"Making certain" generally means ensuring something happens or is true. "Verifying" specifically refers to checking the accuracy or truth of something. Therefore, "verifying" is a more precise term when you're confirming facts or data.