making them listen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making them listen" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of compelling or encouraging someone to pay attention or hear what is being said. Example: "The teacher had a unique way of making them listen during the lecture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Making them listen doesn't necessarily mean lots of hand gestures and moving around.

The New York Times

But "channel ORANGE" isn't just another album, or just another album trailed by a cloud of hype and ludicrous expectations — this album is bringing people to a stop and making them listen closely, sparking e-mail threads and text-message chains.

The New Yorker

True, this came after a summer of making them listen to a show where two AARP charter members debated the relative sound qualities of different mixing board recordings of the Dead's 1977 East Coast swing.

Huffington Post

Whether it's villagers from Burma facing Unocal in a deposition and making them listen to their experiences of forced labor and torture or Nigerians telling a California jury about shootings by Chevron's hired guns, our clients say the same thing: "We told our stories.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

MARINA ROSENFELD: As a historical phenomenon, ambivalence about releasing recordings — not to mention also making them, listening to them, collecting them, none of which is strictly equivalent — makes a different kind of sense than it ever could today.

The New Yorker

What we could do is make them listen to us.

The New Yorker

They do not listen, we do not MAKE them listen, and what's worse?

University of California, Berkeley

He locked them in his castle & made them listen to his poetry.

The New Yorker

We have to make them listen to sex workers and stop them in their tracks.

Independent

"I'm going to stand there and make them listen," she says.

The Guardian - Music

I had to refuse to leave hospital, blocking a bed, to make them listen.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "making them listen" when you want to emphasize the act of influencing or compelling someone to pay attention. It's suitable for describing situations where active effort is required to gain an audience's ear.

Common error

Avoid using "making them listen" in contexts where a softer, more persuasive approach is appropriate. Overuse can make your writing sound aggressive or authoritarian. Consider alternatives like "encouraging engagement" or "fostering understanding" to create a more collaborative tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making them listen" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating an action performed upon a subject. The verb "make" here takes an object ("them") and an infinitive ("listen"), forming a causative construction. Ludwig confirms the common usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "making them listen" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that describes the act of compelling someone to pay attention. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase commonly appears in news and media, as well as in formal business contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to consider the context to avoid sounding overly forceful. Alternatives such as "getting them to pay attention" or "persuading them to listen" can offer a softer approach. Use "making them listen" judiciously to effectively convey the idea of gaining someone's attention, while remaining mindful of the desired tone and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

getting them to pay attention

A more casual and less forceful way of saying the same thing.

getting their ear

Focuses on gaining access to someone's attention.

forcing them to hear

Highlights the compulsory aspect of listening, often against their will.

demanding their attention

Highlights the speaker's insistence on being heard.

drawing their attention

Suggests a more subtle and persuasive method.

persuading them to listen

Emphasizes convincing or influencing someone to pay attention.

compelling them to heed

Implies a more forceful and authoritative form of making someone listen.

making them heed

A formal and somewhat old-fashioned way to express the idea.

commanding their ear

Emphasizes authority and the expectation of obedience.

ensuring their attention

Focuses on guaranteeing attentiveness rather than the act of making them listen.

FAQs

How can I use "making them listen" in a sentence?

You can use "making them listen" to describe the act of compelling or encouraging someone to pay attention. For example: "The teacher had a unique way of "making them listen" during the lecture."

What are some alternatives to "making them listen"?

Alternatives include "getting them to pay attention", "forcing them to hear", or "drawing their attention", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "making them listen"?

It's appropriate when you need to emphasize the effort required to gain someone's attention, especially when they are initially unwilling or distracted. Avoid using it in contexts where a more collaborative or persuasive approach is needed.

What's the difference between "making them listen" and "persuading them to listen"?

"Making them listen" implies a more forceful or directive approach, while "persuading them to listen" suggests influencing them through reason or appeal.