to make sense of

USAGE SUMMARY

"to make sense of" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to understand, comprehend, or interpret something. Examples: 1. I couldn't make sense of the instructions, so I asked for help. 2. The therapist helped me make sense of my feelings. 3. The detective is trying to make sense of all the evidence in the case. 4. It took me a few readings to make sense of the complicated passage. 5. Can you help me make sense of this graph? 6. The scientist was able to make sense of the data and draw meaningful conclusions. 7. It's difficult to make sense of a foreign language without proper translation. 8. After hours of studying, I finally made sense of the math problem. 9. The novel's ambiguous ending left readers struggling to make sense of it. 10. The chaos and noise made it hard to make any sense of the speaker's words.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Trying to make sense of it.

The New York Times

How to make sense of these two?

The New Yorker

"They want to make sense of China".

The New York Times

best to make sense of it.

University of California, Berkeley

We try to make sense of people.

Stanford University

It's impossible to make sense of it.

The Washington Post

It's impossible to make sense of.

The Guardian

How to make sense of that?

The Guardian - Sport

How to make sense of these excesses?

The New York Times - Arts

How to make sense of this?

The New Yorker

They try to make sense of it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to make sense of" when you want to emphasize the process of understanding something that is initially confusing or complex.

Common error

Avoid using "to make sense of" in situations where a simpler verb like "understand" or "know" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to make sense of" functions as an infinitive verb phrase. It is used to express the purpose or intention of understanding or interpreting something, often when that thing is complex or confusing. Ludwig AI confirms this common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Academia

24%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to make sense of" is a versatile and frequently used phrase that expresses the act of understanding or interpreting something, especially when it's complex or confusing. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It's suitable for various contexts, primarily appearing in news, academic, and encyclopedia settings. While highly adaptable, it's best used when emphasizing the process of understanding rather than stating simple comprehension. Remember to use simpler alternatives such as "to understand" or "to figure out" in less complex situations to avoid sounding overly verbose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to understand

Focuses directly on the act of comprehending something.

to comprehend

Implies a more thorough and complete understanding.

to figure out

Suggests a process of reasoning or problem-solving to reach understanding.

to decipher

Emphasizes the effort required to understand something obscure or complex.

to interpret

Highlights the act of explaining the meaning of something.

to grasp

Implies a quick or intuitive understanding.

to get to the bottom of

Suggests uncovering the truth or underlying cause of something.

to clarify

Focuses on making something clearer or more understandable.

to unravel

Implies disentangling a complex or confusing situation.

to explain

Centers on providing a clear account or justification.

FAQs

How can I use "to make sense of" in a sentence?

You can use "to make sense of" to describe the process of understanding something confusing, such as, "I am trying "to make sense of" the new policy changes."

What can I say instead of "to make sense of"?

You can use alternatives like "to understand", "to comprehend", or "to figure out" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "make sense of" or "makes sense of"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "make sense of" with plural subjects (e.g., "They make sense of the data") and "makes sense of" with singular subjects (e.g., "He makes sense of the situation").

What's the difference between "to understand" and "to make sense of"?

"To understand" generally means to know the meaning or nature of something. "To make sense of" implies a more active process of trying to comprehend something that is initially confusing or unclear. You might "to understand" simple instructions, but you "to make sense of" a complex philosophical argument.