to make oneself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to make oneself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is referring to the act of preparing or transforming themselves in some way, often in relation to emotions or states of being. Example: "She needed to make herself more confident before the presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

To surrender, in more Jamesian terms, is to make oneself open to new possibilities.

The New York Times

What, possibly, can it mean to make oneself an image of tragedy?

The New Yorker

"To exist is to make oneself a lack of being; it is to cast oneself into the world.

The New Yorker

When I spoke with Mark DeMoss, he made it clear that it wasn't advisable to make oneself the story.

The New York Times

Should art always be an extension of an unquestioned project to make oneself and one's world beautiful?

The Guardian - Books

There are people for whom sense, seriousness and accountability are everything: to laugh, they feel, is to make oneself ridiculous.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

He has written eight books on youth sports, including the recent "Elevating Your Game: Becoming a Triple-Impact Competitor," one who commits to making oneself, one's teammates and the game better by how one compete and lives.

The New York Times - Sports

In addition to making oneself very visible to comfort the citizenry, we created outlets for individuals and children in schools to record their experiences and place those recordings in the public library.

Huffington Post

In addition to the usual prose and poetry of the established literati, IWWG has offered kite flying, juggling, Japanese Fan Dancing, Soul Dolls, Mask Making, Mandalas at conferences, to help make oneself feel free to write.

Huffington Post

Like the back door of a house, a crypto backdoor (generally written as a single word) is a way to circumvent the locks and protections of the main entrance in order to walk in unobstructed and make oneself comfortable.

TechCrunch

One must make oneself vulnerable to one's betrayer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure by occasionally substituting with alternatives like "to prepare oneself" or "to transform oneself" to avoid monotony.

Common error

Avoid using "to make oneself" when the action isn't reflexive. The phrase implies that the subject is acting upon themselves. Using it in contexts where the action is directed towards someone or something else is incorrect. For example, avoid saying "He tried to make oneself happy" when you mean "He tried to make her happy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to make oneself" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose or intention. It is often used to describe actions taken to achieve a specific state or condition. Ludwig examples show it connecting an action with the desired result for the subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to make oneself" is a grammatically correct and versatile infinitive phrase used to express purpose and intention, particularly actions aimed at self-improvement or preparation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, from news and media to scientific and general writing. While common, users should ensure the reflexive nature of the phrase is appropriate and consider alternatives such as "to prepare oneself" or "to transform oneself" for stylistic variation. The phrase is most frequently found in news media and scientific sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to prepare oneself

Focuses on readying oneself for a specific situation or task.

to transform oneself

Emphasizes a complete change in character or appearance.

to better oneself

Highlights the act of improving one's skills, knowledge, or character.

to improve oneself

Similar to 'better oneself', but slightly broader in scope.

to ready oneself

Implies getting ready or prepared, often for something imminent.

to equip oneself

Stresses providing oneself with necessary resources or skills.

to adapt oneself

Focuses on adjusting or conforming to new conditions.

to train oneself

Emphasizes disciplined practice and preparation.

to educate oneself

Highlights the act of learning and acquiring knowledge independently.

to mold oneself

Suggests shaping one's character or behavior to fit a desired ideal.

FAQs

How can I use "to make oneself" in a sentence?

The phrase "to make oneself" indicates an action done to oneself, often to achieve a desired state or condition. For example, "She needed to "prepare oneself" for the interview" or "He struggled "to make himself understood"".

What are some alternatives to "to make oneself"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "to prepare oneself", "to transform oneself", or "to improve oneself".

Is there a difference between "to make oneself" and "to do something for oneself"?

Yes. "To make oneself" implies changing or preparing oneself, while "to do something for oneself" suggests acting in one's own interest or benefit. The phrases have different semantic meanings and are not interchangeable.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "to make oneself"?

Avoid using "to make oneself" when referring to actions done to someone else. It is a reflexive phrase, so the subject and object of the verb must be the same. For instance, it is incorrect to say "He tried to make oneself happy" when you mean "He tried to make her happy".