Establish vs Make sure your children feel safe

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Establish

Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb

Make sure your children feel safe

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Establish
 EstablishMake sure your children feel safe
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ɪˈstæblɪʃ/","/ɪˈstæblɪʃɪz/","/ɪˈstæblɪʃt/","/ɪˈstæblɪʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪˈstæblɪʃ/","/ɪˈstæblɪʃɪz/","/ɪˈstæblɪʃt/","/ɪˈstæblɪʃɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //meɪk ʃʊə jɔː ˈtʃɪldrən fiːl seɪf//🇺🇸 //meɪk ʃʊr jʊr ˈtʃɪldrən fil seɪf//
MeaningTo set up or create something.Tell your kids they are protected and not in danger.
ExampleThe scientist aims to establish a new theory of evolution.Always **make sure** your children feel safe at home.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsinitially, originally, formally, attempt to, seek to, try to, an attempt to establish something, an effort to establish something, newly established, initially, originally, formally, attempt to, seek to, try to, an attempt to establish something, an effort to establish something, newly established, firmly, securely, fully, attempt to, seek to, try to, as, become established, get established, previously established, conclusively, definitely, definitively, attempt to, seek to, try to, an attempt to establish something, an effort to establish somethingmake sure your children, make sure everyone, make sure they feel safe
Antonymsdisband, dissolve, destroy-
Common mistakesIncorrectly using 'establish' as a synonym for 'create' without context., Confusing 'establish' with 'find' or 'discover'., Using 'establish' in transitive constructions without an object.Using 'makes sure' instead of 'make sure' with the subject 'you', Confusing 'make sure' with 'ensure' in informal contexts, Omitting the object after 'make sure'
Usage notesUse 'establish' in formal and academic contexts when setting up institutions, relationships, or laws. It's less common in casual conversation.Use 'make sure' in everyday conversation about responsibilities. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts but avoid using it in very casual settings.

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Make sure your children feel safe

Frequently asked questions: Establish vs Make sure your children feel safe

What's the difference between Establish and Make sure your children feel safe?

Establish: To set up or create something. Make sure your children feel safe: Tell your kids they are protected and not in danger.

Which is more common: Establish and Make sure your children feel safe?

Establish is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Establish: The scientist aims to establish a new theory of evolution. Make sure your children feel safe: Always **make sure** your children feel safe at home.

Can I use Establish and Make sure your children feel safe interchangeably?

Not always. Establish and Make sure your children feel safe are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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