we made sure

USAGE SUMMARY

"we made sure" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something was done deliberately and carefully. Example: We made sure to double-check all the details before submitting the project.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Here we made sure.

The Guardian - Sport

"We made sure that every agency knew".

The New York Times

In addition, we made sure to avoid conflicts of interest.

Cornell University

And we made sure it was an actual antidote.

Princeton University

Throughout the design stage, we made sure to consider safety.

Cornell University

And we made sure to make topping requests, too.

The New York Times

And we made sure the knife was sharp".

Independent

"We made sure she had the right red lipstick.

The New Yorker

We made sure more care leavers got apprenticeships.

The Guardian

"In practice today, we made sure things happened.

The New York Times - Sports

We made sure we went after Southwest Airlines.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we made sure" to clearly indicate proactive steps taken to achieve a desired result or prevent a negative outcome. It adds emphasis to the intentionality behind the action.

Common error

Avoid using "we made sure" without clearly explaining what actions were taken. Providing specific details strengthens your statement and avoids ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we made sure" functions as a declarative statement emphasizing proactive actions taken to achieve a specific outcome or prevent an undesirable one. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its correctness and usability. Examples in Ludwig show its use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

37%

Science

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we made sure" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to emphasize actions taken to guarantee a specific outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, although predominantly found in news, academic, and scientific writing. When using "we made sure", ensure clarity by specifying what actions were taken. Alternatives like "we ensured" or "we guaranteed" can be used to add variety. Remember, the goal is to communicate assurance and accountability effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we ensured

Emphasizes guaranteeing a specific outcome through proactive measures.

we guaranteed

Highlights a firm commitment to achieving a certain result.

we took care to

Focuses on the attentiveness and caution exercised in performing an action.

we saw to it that

Emphasizes personal responsibility in ensuring something happened.

we verified

Highlights the act of confirming or checking the accuracy of something.

we confirmed

Emphasizes the establishment of certainty about something.

we ascertained

Focuses on discovering something with certainty, often through investigation.

we checked

Highlights the action of inspecting or examining something for accuracy or condition.

we established

Emphasizes the act of setting something firmly in place or proving it.

we saw to it

Emphasizes the action of dealing with or taking responsibility for something.

FAQs

How can I use "we made sure" in a sentence?

Use "we made sure" to emphasize that specific actions were taken to achieve a desired outcome. For example, "We made sure to double-check all the data before submitting the report".

What can I say instead of "we made sure"?

You can use alternatives like "we ensured", "we guaranteed", or "we took care to" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "we made sure that" or "we made sure to"?

Both "we made sure that" and "we made sure to" are grammatically correct. "We made sure that" is often followed by a clause (e.g., "we made sure that the data was accurate"), while "we made sure to" is typically followed by an infinitive verb (e.g., "we made sure to check the data").

What is the difference between "we made sure" and "we were sure"?

"We made sure" indicates that action was taken to guarantee a result, while "we were sure" expresses a feeling of certainty. For example, "We made sure the door was locked" (action taken) vs. "We were sure the door was locked" (feeling of certainty).