making purchases

USAGE SUMMARY

"making purchases" is correct and usable in written English.
It is commonly used to refer to any transaction in which goods or services are exchanged for money. For example, "I have been making purchases online to avoid going to the store."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

People also started making purchases based on apps and ecosystems.

The New York Times

known as the E.F.S.F., is able to start making purchases.

The New York Times

Making purchases these days definitely has its challenges.

The New York Times

But it will take months before the rescue fund is able to start making purchases.

The New York Times

"I want to make sure other people making purchases understand that, too".

The New York Times

"We will wind up making purchases frivolously rather than intelligently," she said.

The New York Times

While the women were busy making purchases, some spouses attended to business matters.

The New Yorker

High unemployment and uncertainty over home prices have kept many potential buyers from making purchases.

The New York Times

Mr. Black is not the only Apollo billionaire making purchases out of his own pocket.

The New York Times

Consumers are also using the internet more as a research tool before making purchases.

The Guardian - Tech

"We believe that consumers have become conditioned towards waiting for promotions before making purchases," BDO wrote.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about consumer behavior, use "making purchases" to convey a general act of buying. For more specific contexts, consider alternatives like "buying items" or "acquiring goods".

Common error

In formal business or academic writing, avoid overusing "making purchases". Opt for more precise terms like "procuring items" or "completing acquisitions" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making purchases" primarily functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It describes the general activity of buying goods or services. Ludwig AI shows numerous examples where it serves as the subject or object of a sentence, indicating its role in conveying the act of purchasing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

23%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "making purchases" is a versatile and commonly used gerund phrase that describes the act of buying goods or services. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. While generally neutral in tone, more formal alternatives like "procuring items" or "completing acquisitions" may be preferred in specific professional or academic contexts. Remember to tailor your choice of words to the formality of your writing, and leverage specific terms when describing nuanced purchasing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

buying items

Focuses on the acquisition of tangible goods.

acquiring goods

Highlights the act of obtaining possessions or merchandise.

performing transactions

Emphasizes the financial exchange aspect of the purchase.

completing acquisitions

Stresses the finalization of the buying process.

procuring items

Indicates a more formal or official method of obtaining goods.

effecting buys

Offers a succinct and slightly less common way to say the same thing.

undertaking acquisitions

Suggests a deliberate and planned approach to buying.

finalizing orders

Highlights the order fulfillment aspect of the purchase.

closing deals

Emphasizes the successful completion of a purchase agreement.

securing acquisitions

Focuses on the act of successfully obtaining something.

FAQs

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

You can use "making purchases" to describe the act of buying something. For example, "Consumers are increasingly "making purchases" online."

What are some alternatives to "making purchases"?

Alternatives include "buying items", "acquiring goods", or "performing transactions", depending on the context.

Is "making purchases" formal or informal?

"Making purchases" is generally considered neutral. For more formal contexts, "procuring items" or "completing acquisitions" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "making purchases" and "making a purchase"?

"Making purchases" refers to the general activity of buying, while "making a purchase" refers to a specific instance of buying something. For example, "They are "making purchases" every day" versus "They are "making a purchase" right now".