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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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To make it short

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

"To make it short" is a correct and usable phrase in written English
It is often used to mean that something is being summarized or condensed. For example: "Since the novel is over 300 pages long, I'll just give you the gist of it, to make it short."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"To make it short, I gave this one guy a needle decompression just for the hell of it," he said.

News & Media

The New Yorker

And of course, like the old saying goes, this letter will be long because I did not have time to make it short.

"I always tried to make it short, make it sweet and make it rhyme," Mr. Cochran explained, discussing his approach to songwriting in an interview with Nashville's City Paper in 2007.

But the connection between clear thinking and succinct writing was expressed as early as 1657 by Blaise Pascal: "I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it short".

News & Media

The New York Times

AG: I'll try to make it short.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Sometimes you'll have ample time; others, you'll need to make it short.

News & Media

Forbes
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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

One solution was to make it shorter.

News & Media

The New Yorker

He knows we need to make it shorter to not be as intimidating.

News & Media

Independent

It'd never be short enough for me, have to make it shorter.

You've got to figure out how to make it shorter".

News & Media

The New Yorker

And for this final one, I'm going to try to make it shorter.

News & Media

Independent
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Expert writing Tips

✓ Best practice

When using "to make it short", ensure that the context is clear and that you actually deliver a concise version of the information. Avoid using the phrase if the following explanation is still lengthy.

⚠ Common error

Avoid starting multiple sentences or paragraphs with "to make it short" as it can become repetitive and lose its impact. Vary your introductory phrases to maintain reader engagement.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to make it short" functions as an introductory phrase, signaling the intention to provide a concise version of a longer explanation. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and common usage, as shown in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

✓ Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

35%

Formal & Business

10%

⚠ Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to make it short" is a grammatically sound and useful introductory phrase used to indicate that a concise summary will follow. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not exceedingly common, it finds its place in diverse contexts, especially in News & Media and Wiki entries. When employing the phrase, ensure you deliver a genuine condensation. Consider alternatives like "in brief" or "in a nutshell" to avoid overuse. Be mindful to not let the summary defeat the purpose by remaining lengthy.

FAQs

How can I use "to make it short" in a sentence?

You can use "to make it short" to introduce a brief summary of a longer explanation. For example, "To make it short, the company decided to postpone the project due to budget constraints."

What are some alternatives to "to make it short"?

Some alternatives include "in brief", "in a nutshell", or "to put it briefly", depending on the level of formality you desire.

Is it correct to say "to make it shortly" instead of "to make it short"?

No, "to make it shortly" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "to make it short", where "short" is an adjective describing the brevity of the summary.

What's the difference between "to make it short" and "long story short"?

"To make it short" is generally used before providing a summary, whereas "long story short" is used after a potentially lengthy explanation to quickly arrive at the conclusion.

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: