making it to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making it to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate successfully reaching a destination, achieving a goal, or arriving at a particular point in time or space. Example: "After months of hard work, I finally feel like I'm making it to my career goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

North champion quadruples its chance of making it to Indianapolis in February.

The New York Times

Making it to a third date, no.

The New York Times - Style

Making it to the top was "slammin'".

The New York Times - Books

Women aren't making it to the top.

Harvard Business Review

Kudos for making it to this section!

The Washington Post

He explained the importance of making it to the wedding.

Independent

Most cases languish without ever making it to trial.

The New York Times

All were discovered after making it to land.

The New York Times

"Pittsburgh and Detroit making it to the finals is great.

The New York Times - Sports

But making it to that point financially is the problem.

The New York Times - Arts

Making it to the N.F.L. was just half the battle.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "making it to" when you want to emphasize the effort or journey involved in reaching a destination, goal, or milestone.

Common error

Avoid using "making it to" when a more direct term like "reaching" or "arriving at" would suffice, especially in formal contexts where a simpler phrasing is preferred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making it to" functions as a prepositional phrase, often acting as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. According to Ludwig, the phrase is deemed grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

28%

Formal & Business

27%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "making it to" is a common and generally accepted prepositional phrase used to describe reaching a destination or achieving a goal. While Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, it is slightly informal, and more formal alternatives like "reaching" or "arriving at" may be preferred in certain professional contexts. The phrase sees frequent usage in news and media, academia, and formal business settings, highlighting its broad applicability. When using "making it to", consider the subtle implication of effort or perseverance involved in reaching the stated objective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arriving at

Focuses on the act of reaching a destination or point.

reaching

Implies successfully getting to a place, position, or state.

getting to

A more informal way of expressing arrival or access.

achieving

Emphasizes the successful accomplishment of something.

attaining

Highlights the effort and success in reaching a certain level or status.

progressing to

Suggests advancement towards a further stage or condition.

advancing to

Similar to progressing, but may imply a more significant step.

succeeding in reaching

Highlights success in achieving the act of reaching.

managing to get to

Implies some difficulty overcome in arriving at a destination.

gaining access to

Focuses on the act of obtaining entry or opportunity.

FAQs

How can I use "making it to" in a sentence?

You can use "making it to" to describe reaching a physical location, such as "I'm hoping to "making it to" the concert on time", or achieving a goal, like "She worked hard and finally succeeded in "making it to" the top of her field".

What are some alternatives to "making it to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "arriving at", "reaching", "getting to", or "achieving".

Is "making it to" formal or informal?

"Making it to" tends to be more informal. In professional or academic writing, consider using more formal alternatives like "arriving at" or "reaching".

What does "making it to" imply that other phrases don't?

"Making it to" often implies effort, perseverance, or overcoming obstacles in order to reach a destination or achieve a goal. This connotation may not be present in simpler alternatives like "arriving at".