they made that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they made that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that was created or produced by a group of people or individuals. Example: "After reviewing the project, I realized they made that design with great attention to detail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

They made that promise.

Independent

They made that phrase up.

Independent

I didn't know they made that".

The New York Times - Style

I wonder if they made that clear on the invitation.

The Economist

"We regret that they made that decision," Mr. Shields said.

The New York Times

They made that point very clear on the ice.

The New York Times - Sports

In their utterly polite way, they made that clear.

The New Yorker

Later they made that area a memorial park.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

"They are responsible and they made that choice".

Huffington Post

They made that obvious in a merciless fourth inning.

The New York Times

They made that choice to protect the land.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they made that" when you want to clearly indicate that a specific group or entity was responsible for a decision, creation, or action. For example, "They made that decision after careful consideration."

Common error

While acceptable, "they made that" can sound less formal than alternatives like "they established that" or "they implemented that" in certain professional or academic writing. Choose the phrasing that best suits the overall tone of your piece.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they made that" functions as a declarative statement, asserting that a group or entity was responsible for a particular action, decision, or creation. Ludwig examples show its use in diverse contexts, affirming its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

16%

Books

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they made that" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase for attributing an action, creation or decision to a group. As Ludwig AI shows, it is widely found in news and media, though it might be best to consider other alternatives for highly formal contexts. While perfectly acceptable, it's essential to match the phrasing to the overall formality of your writing. When clarity and direct attribution are paramount, "they made that" serves as a reliable and effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they created that

Replaces "made" with "created", emphasizing the act of bringing something into existence.

they produced that

Substitutes "made" with "produced", highlighting the process of manufacturing or generating something.

they established that

Uses "established" instead of "made", focusing on the act of proving or demonstrating something.

they decided on that

Replaces "made" with "decided on", emphasizing the choice or selection of something.

they implemented that

Uses "implemented" instead of "made", highlighting the action of putting a plan or system into effect.

they brought that about

Emphasizes the action of causing something to happen or exist.

that was of their making

This is a more formal way of saying something was made by someone.

they were responsible for that

Highlights accountability and emphasizes that something happened because of them.

that was their doing

Emphasizes that they did it.

they were the authors of that

This is a more formal way to say that they created something.

FAQs

What does "they made that" mean?

The phrase "they made that" generally means that a group of people or a specific entity created, produced, or decided upon something. The exact meaning can vary slightly depending on the context.

How can I use "they made that" in a sentence?

You can use "they made that" to describe a decision, a product, or any other outcome that a group was responsible for. For instance, "They made that decision after a long discussion" or "They made that cake for the party".

What's a more formal alternative to "they made that"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "they established that", "they created that", or "they implemented that" for a more formal tone.

Is it ever incorrect to use the phrase "they made that"?

While generally correct, "they made that" might sound too informal in certain academic or professional settings. Ensure the tone aligns with the overall formality of your writing.