Master 10 Powerful Collocations with “Make” to Boost Your Academic Writing Fluency

Master 10 Powerful Collocations with “Make” to Boost Your Academic Writing Fluency

We all use phrases like make a difference, come to an agreement, break a record, take a risk, do the right thing. These groups of words that must go together are called collocations.

If you say do a decision instead of make a decision, your English sounds unnatural — even if the grammar is correct. Mastering collocations is the secret to sounding fluent and academic.

Let’s master the most important collocations with the super-verb MAKE.

What is a collocation? A group of words that are often used together and have a specific, natural meaning. For MAKE, we use it for actions that create, produce, or cause something.

The Top 10 MAKE Collocations You Must Know

1. Make a decision / Make the decision

Meaning: To decide something after thinking. We can use “a” or “the”.
Don’t say: take a decision (Common mistake!)

Transcript Example: He made the decision to study every day.
Unique Academic Examples:

• The university board made the decision to offer all courses online from next semester.
• Young entrepreneurs often struggle with making difficult decisions about investment without enough data.

2. Make an effort

Meaning: To try very hard to do something; to do your best.

Transcript Example: She knew she needed to make more of an effort to help the students.
Unique Examples:

• If you want to improve your IELTS Writing from Band 6 to Band 7.5, you must make a consistent effort to learn academic vocabulary daily.
• The government should make more effort to provide affordable internet in rural villages.

3. Make clear / Make it clear

Meaning: To explain something so clearly that there is no confusion.

Transcript Example: The president made it clear that the policy would go into effect at the beginning of the year.
Unique Examples:

• The professor made it clear that plagiarism would result in immediate failure — no exceptions.
• The new contract makes clear who is responsible for maintenance costs.

4. Make a choice / Make the choice

Meaning: To select one option from several possibilities.

Transcript Example: Making a good choice in eating habits is important for good health.
Unique Examples:

• Students make the choice between studying abroad and staying in their home country every year.
• We need to make smart choices about how we use artificial intelligence in education.

5. Make a complaint / Lodge a complaint

Meaning: To formally say you are unhappy or dissatisfied. Lodge a complaint is a more formal synonym!

Transcript Example: The workers made a complaint to the management about the new policy.
Unique Examples:

• Customers can now make a complaint directly through the app instead of visiting the office.
• Several residents lodged a formal complaint against the factory for noise pollution at night.

6. Make a difference

Meaning: To cause an important effect or change; to have a significant impact.

Transcript Example: The policy will make a substantial difference in the use of materials.
Unique Examples:

• Even small donations can make a huge difference in a child’s education in underprivileged areas.
• Planting one tree may not seem like much, but millions of trees together make a real difference for the climate.

7. Make a point / Make the point

Meaning: (a) To state an important idea clearly to bring attention to it. (b) Make a point of + V-ing = to make a special effort to do something.

Transcript Example: The president made the point that the policy would take effect immediately.
Unique Examples:

• The author makes a strong point about social media addiction: we are more connected but more lonely than ever.
• I always make a point of reading at least 10 pages every morning before checking my phone.

8. Make an exception

Meaning: To allow something that is usually NOT allowed; to not follow the usual rule.

Transcript Example: The company would make an exception for the client.
Unique Examples:

• The library usually closes at 8 PM, but they made an exception for students during final exams and stayed open until midnight.
• Our return policy is 7 days, but we can make an exception for damaged products.

9. Make plans to / Make plans for

Meaning: To have a desire/purpose and arrange to do something in the future.

Transcript Example: The company is making plans to rebuild the facility.
Unique Examples:

• She is making plans to pursue her Master’s degree in Canada next fall.
• We have already made plans for the annual Advanced English Lab workshop.

10. Make progress

Meaning: To move forward, improve, or develop over time.

Transcript Example: He made good progress on his writing assignment.
Unique Examples:

• After months of practice, she finally made significant progress in her spoken English fluency.
• Scientists are making incredible progress in renewable energy storage technology.

Bonus Tip: MAKE vs. DO?

This is the most confusing part!

• Use MAKE when you create or produce something that didn’t exist before: make a decision, make a plan, make a complaint, make progress.
• Use DO when you perform an action or task: do homework, do research, do your best.

Final Practice

By making the decision to make a little effort to learn these collocations, you will definitely make progress in your writing!

Your Task: Correct the mistake: “I did a big effort to make a decision about my career, and it made a big difference.”

Comment your answer on Advanced English Lab — I’ll check it!