wanted to make clear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wanted to make clear" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize or clarify a point you are trying to communicate. Example: "I wanted to make clear that the deadline for submissions is next Friday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The prime minister is treating the place as his private property," Kader wanted to make clear.

The New York Times

"Vals is not about an outside object," Zumthor wanted to make clear.

The New York Times - Magazine

"We wanted to make clear this could not be business as usual," the official said.

The New York Times

But voting rights, Brooks wanted to make clear, had never been handed down from on high.

The New Yorker

He wanted to make clear, however, that he had not tested positive for a steroid.

The New York Times - Sports

Armitstead said she wanted to make clear her point of view "in her own words".

The Guardian - Sport

And he wanted to make clear that he had a very good reason.

The New York Times

And they also wanted to make clear that they did not intend to collect child pornography.

The Guardian - Tech

"I wanted to make clear that, yes, I enjoy my life," he says.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

If they wanted to make clear their disagreement with army rules, they were free to help organise student protests.

The Economist

"And we also wanted to make clear that doing this was going to be really, physically hard".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and adjust the formality of your language. In formal settings, alternatives like "sought to clarify" may be more appropriate than "wanted to make clear".

Common error

Avoid using "wanted to make clear" when the point is already obvious. Overusing this phrase can make your writing sound redundant and less impactful. Sometimes a direct statement is more effective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wanted to make clear" functions as an introductory phrase that signals the intention to clarify, emphasize, or underscore a particular point. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct. Examples from Ludwig showcase its use in various contexts to introduce a statement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wanted to make clear" is a versatile and widely used expression for introducing a clarification or emphasis. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appropriate for various contexts. It signals the speaker or writer's intention to ensure understanding or highlight a key point. While very common in News & Media, it can also be found in Academia and Formal & Business settings. When using "wanted to make clear", ensure the context is clear and avoid redundancy by overusing the phrase. Consider more formal alternatives like "sought to clarify" or "wished to emphasize" in appropriate settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sought to clarify

Replaces "wanted" with "sought" and "make clear" with "clarify", resulting in a more formal tone.

intended to highlight

Substitutes "wanted" with "intended" and "make clear" with "highlight", focusing on bringing attention to something.

wished to emphasize

Changes the verb to "wished" and uses "emphasize" instead of "make clear" to convey a stronger intent.

aimed to underscore

Uses "aimed" instead of "wanted" and "underscore" instead of "make clear", suggesting a desire to highlight a specific aspect.

desired to elucidate

Replaces "wanted" with "desired" and "make clear" with "elucidate", implying a wish to make something easier to understand.

meant to convey

Changes the structure to focus on the act of conveying a message, rather than clarifying something.

hoped to demonstrate

Shifts the focus to showing or proving something, rather than just clarifying it.

strove to indicate

Uses "strove" instead of "wanted" and "indicate" instead of "make clear", suggesting an effort to point something out.

was eager to express

Changes the structure to emphasize the desire to communicate a particular point.

felt compelled to state

Indicates a strong feeling of obligation to declare something, rather than simply clarify it.

FAQs

What does "wanted to make clear" mean?

The phrase "wanted to make clear" means that someone had a desire to ensure something was easily understood or to emphasize a particular point.

How can I use "wanted to make clear" in a sentence?

You can use "wanted to make clear" to introduce a statement of clarification, like in the sentence: "The author "wanted to make clear" that the events in the book are fictional."

What can I say instead of "wanted to make clear"?

You can use alternatives such as "sought to clarify", "wished to emphasize", or "aimed to underscore", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use "wanted to make clear"?

While not always redundant, using "wanted to make clear" can sometimes be unnecessary if the context already implies clarification. Consider whether a direct statement would be more concise and impactful.