Language is weird. We get stuck on certain phrases like a skipped record, and "making sure" is one of the biggest offenders in the modern workplace. It’s the verbal equivalent of a safety blanket. You use it because it feels responsible, but honestly, it’s often just filler. Or worse, it’s vague. When a manager tells a team they are "making sure the project stays on track," what are they actually doing? Are they staring at a Gantt chart? Are they emailing developers? Are they physically standing over someone's shoulder?
Words matter. They define your authority. If you’re looking for another way to say making sure, you’re probably realizing that your emails are starting to sound like a repetitive loop of polite nagging.
Precision is the antidote to corporate fluff. Most of the time, we say we’re making sure of something because we haven’t quite figured out the specific action we’re taking. It’s a placeholder. But in a high-stakes environment—think legal, engineering, or medical—vagueness is a liability. You don't want a surgeon "making sure" the equipment is sterile; you want them verifying it. You don't want a pilot "making sure" there's fuel; you want them confirming the levels.
The Problem With Being Too Polite
We use "making sure" because it sounds soft. It’s non-confrontational. If I say I’m "making sure" you got my last email, it sounds less aggressive than "confirming receipt." But in professional settings, that softness can actually erode your perceived expertise. It makes you sound like an assistant rather than a decision-maker.
Take a look at how language experts discuss "filler authority." Harvard Business Review has often touched on the idea that "low-power" language—hedging, tag questions, and vague verbs—can undermine even the most brilliant ideas. By finding a more muscular another way to say making sure, you’re effectively reclaiming your seat at the table. You are moving from a passive observer to an active participant.
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Sometimes, you aren't making sure at all. You're enforcing. You're guaranteeing. You're validating.
Think about the nuance. To "validate" something implies a rigorous check against a set of standards. To "guarantee" something puts your own reputation on the line. These aren't just synonyms; they are different levels of commitment.
When You Need to Sound Precise
If you’re writing a report or a formal contract, "making sure" looks amateur. It’s too colloquial.
- Verify. This is the gold standard for technical work. It implies a process. You aren't just looking at something; you're checking it against a known truth.
- Validate. This goes a step further. It's about ensuring the logic holds up.
- Ascertain. A bit old-school, sure. But it works when you need to discover the facts of a situation. "We need to ascertain the cause of the delay." It sounds like you're on a mission.
- Confirm. Simple. Direct. Use this for logistics.
Let's talk about "ensuring." People think it’s a perfect swap. It’s not. "Ensure" is still a bit of a "hand-wavey" word. It promises a result without explaining the method. If you tell a client you will "ensure their satisfaction," you haven't actually told them how. Are you giving them a discount? Better service? A pony?
Specifics win. Every time.
Instead of saying "I'm making sure the budget is right," try "I am auditing the budget for discrepancies." See the difference? One is a vague vibe; the other is a task with a clear outcome.
Why the Military and Aviation Sectors Avoid Vague Verbs
In high-risk industries, "making sure" can literally get people killed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) uses very specific phraseology. Pilots don't "make sure" they have clearance. They request, confirm, and read back.
In the military, "trust but verify" is a cliché for a reason. It's not about a lack of trust; it's about the fallibility of human communication. If you use a more definitive another way to say making sure, you eliminate the "I thought you meant..." conversations that happen three days before a deadline.
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Contextual Swaps for Every Situation
Not every "making sure" is the same. You have to read the room.
If you’re being a boss:
Stop saying "I'm just making sure everyone is on the same page." It’s weak. Try "I’m aligning the team on our Q4 goals." Or, if you need to be firmer: "I am establishing the protocols for this rollout."
If you’re talking to a client:
"Making sure" can sound like you’re worried. You don't want to sound worried. You want to sound in control. "We are monitoring the situation closely" sounds way more professional than "We're making sure nothing goes wrong."
If you’re in a creative field:
"Making sure" feels restrictive. Use "refining" or "polishing." "I'm polishing the final draft" suggests an upward trajectory of quality. "I'm making sure the draft is okay" sounds like you're barely hitting the minimum requirement.
The Subtle Art of "Vouching" and "Guaranteeing"
Sometimes you aren't just checking a box. You are putting your neck on the line. When you say you are "making sure" a delivery arrives on time, you are actually guaranteeing it.
Why not use the stronger word?
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Using "guarantee" or "certify" changes the power dynamic of the conversation. It shows you have skin in the game. It shows you have enough confidence in your systems that you can promise a result.
But be careful. Don't "certify" something if you're just glancing at it. That's how lawsuits start.
Transforming Your Emails Tomorrow
You can start fixing this immediately. Open your "Sent" folder. Search for the phrase. You’ll probably be embarrassed by how often it pops up. I know I was when I first did this.
Instead of: "Just making sure you saw this."
Try: "I’m following up on the status of this request."
Instead of: "I'll make sure the fridge is stocked."
Try: "I'll handle the office supplies."
Instead of: "We need to make sure the data is secure."
Try: "We must fortify our data encryption."
It’s about the "how." If you can replace "making sure" with a word that describes the method of the action, you’ve won. "Double-checking" is a method. "Inspecting" is a method. "Overseeing" is a position of power.
Beyond the Thesaurus: The Psychology of Certainty
When you stop using filler phrases, your brain starts to shift. You begin to think in terms of concrete actions. If you can't find a better word than "making sure," it might be because you don't actually know what you're doing yet.
Think about that.
If I can't say I'm auditing, reviewing, or securing, then what am I actually doing? Am I just worrying? Sometimes "making sure" is just code for "I'm anxious about this and I'm looking at it."
Identify the anxiety. Turn it into an action. Then name that action.
Actionable Steps for Clearer Communication
- The "Method" Test: Every time you type "make sure," ask yourself: How am I doing that? If the answer is "by looking at it," use inspect or review. If the answer is "by calling someone," use confirming.
- Audit Your "Justs": We often pair "just" with "making sure." Get rid of both. "I'm just making sure" is the weakest sentence in the English language.
- Use Active Verbs: Focus on words that require a result. Finalize, Execute, Secure, Authorize. * Match the Stakes: If the task is small, use check. If the task is big, use oversee or coordinate.
- Check for Redundancy: Often, you don't even need a replacement. "I will make sure the report is finished by Friday" can just be "I will finish the report by Friday." The "making sure" part is implied by your commitment.
Stop hiding behind vague language. It doesn't make you look more helpful; it just makes your contributions harder to measure. Start using verbs that actually mean something, and you'll find that people start taking your "checks" a lot more seriously.
Go through your next three emails. Delete every instance of "making sure." Replace them with verify, coordinate, or finalize. Observe how the tone of the email shifts from "asking for permission to exist" to "directing a workflow." It’s a small change, but it’s the difference between being a participant and being a leader.