that made me

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that made me" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a cause-and-effect relationship, indicating that something caused a particular feeling or action in the speaker. Example: "The movie was so touching that made me cry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"So that made me stop and think".

The New Yorker

(Just writing that made me sleepy).

The New York Times

"And that made me really happy.

The New York Times

"And that made me cry.

The New York Times

They're songs that made me love reggae.

Independent

("That made me cringe," he'd told me).

The New Yorker

"And that made me really sad".

Los Angeles Times

I read something that made me laugh.

Los Angeles Times

That made me suspicious.

The New York Times - Sports

"That made me uncomfortable".

The New Yorker

That made me uneasy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that made me" when you want to clearly express a direct cause-and-effect relationship between an event or situation and your resulting emotion or action. It's a straightforward way to convey personal impact.

Common error

While "that made me" is perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation and informal writing, avoid overusing it in formal contexts. Opt for more sophisticated causal connectors like "consequently" or "as a result" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that made me" functions as a causal connector, linking a preceding event or situation to its effect on the speaker. It introduces a statement about a personal reaction, emotion, or action resulting from something else. As Ludwig AI suggests, this is a grammatically sound construction used to express cause and effect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that made me" is a grammatically correct and very common causal connector used to express a direct cause-and-effect relationship between an event and the speaker's reaction. As Ludwig AI confirms, its versatility allows it to be used in various contexts, although more formal options might be preferable in certain writing scenarios. While "that made me" is often appropriate, consider using alternatives such as "that caused me to" or "that led me to" for slight nuances in meaning. When aiming for a polished tone, avoid overusing the phrase, opting for more sophisticated expressions. Remember that while the phrase is used in formal contexts, depending on the surrounding language, it could be perceived as slightly informal for formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it made me feel

Similar meaning but rephrasing it to start with "it", instead of "that".

that caused me to

Replaces "made" with "caused", emphasizing the causation more directly but retaining a similar structure.

that led me to

Similar to "caused me to", but implies a sequence of events where one thing leads to another.

it caused me to feel

Replaces "made" with "caused", emphasizing the causation more directly but retaining a similar structure and also stating that is about feelings.

that resulted in me

Focuses on the outcome or result, highlighting the effect on the speaker.

that prompted me to

Implies a stimulus or reason that motivated the speaker's action or feeling.

that motivated me to

Highlights the motivation behind an action or feeling, emphasizing the internal drive.

that influenced me to

Suggests a more subtle effect, where something had an impact on the speaker's choices or emotions.

that encouraged me to

Implies a positive influence or support that led to a certain action or feeling.

that inspired me to

Focuses on the inspirational aspect, where something evoked a strong feeling or desire.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "that made me" in formal writing?

In formal writing, consider using alternatives such as "that led to", "consequently", or "as a result". These options often provide a more polished and sophisticated tone.

What's a more nuanced way to express the influence something had on me, instead of "that made me"?

Instead of "that made me", try phrases like "that prompted me to", "that influenced me to", or "that inspired me to" to convey a more subtle or specific effect.

When is it appropriate to use "that made me"?

The phrase "that made me" is suitable for informal and conversational contexts where a direct expression of cause and effect is desired. It's commonly used in personal narratives and anecdotes.

Is "that makes me" interchangeable with "that made me"?

No, "that makes me" and "that made me" are not interchangeable. "That makes me" implies a current or ongoing effect, while "that made me" refers to a past event or feeling.