Make a Suggestion vs. Do a Suggestion – Which is Correct?
Use make a suggestion to express or offer an idea for someone to consider. Do a suggestion is not standard American English and usually results from translating another language or confusing make with do. Give or offer a suggestion are natural alternatives. The correct phrase here is make a suggestion.
Make a Suggestion or Do a Suggestion: Which Is Correct?
Make a suggestion is the correct and natural phrase in standard American English. It means to present an idea, recommendation, or possible course of action for another person to consider.
Do a suggestion is not a standard English expression. It may result from translating directly from another language or confusing the verb do with make. English commonly uses make with ideas, proposals, recommendations, requests, and suggestions.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use make when you create or express something, and use do when you perform an activity or task. You make a suggestion because you create and communicate an idea. You do research, do homework, or do a job because these are activities.
A useful swap test is to replace suggestion with proposal. Since English says make a proposal, it also says make a suggestion.
| Word or Phrase | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| make a suggestion | Verb phrase | Present an idea or recommendation | May I make a suggestion? |
| do a suggestion | Nonstandard phrase | Not normally used to mean present an idea | Do not write, “I want to do a suggestion.” |
How to Use Make a Suggestion
Make a suggestion is used when someone offers an idea, recommendation, or possible solution. It works in casual conversations, workplace communication, academic writing, customer service, and formal discussions. The phrase is polite and neutral, although the surrounding words can make it more formal or more direct.
You can use a question to introduce a suggestion politely, such as “May I make a suggestion?” You can also identify the person making the suggestion with a possessive noun or pronoun, as in “She made a suggestion” or “The manager made a suggestion.”
Example 1: I would like to make a suggestion about improving the onboarding process.
Example 2: Marcus made a suggestion that saved the team several hours.
Example 3: May I make a suggestion? We could meet earlier to avoid traffic.
What Are the Different Forms of Make a Suggestion?
The verb make is irregular. Its base form is make, its third-person singular present form is makes, its present participle is making, and both its past tense and past participle are made.
- Present: I make a suggestion; she makes a suggestion.
- Present progressive: They are making a suggestion.
- Past: He made a suggestion yesterday.
- Present perfect: We have made a suggestion.
- Future: I will make a suggestion at the meeting.
The noun suggestion is countable. Its singular form is a suggestion, and its plural form is suggestions.
Etymology of the Phrase Make a Suggestion
The verb make comes from Old English macian, meaning to prepare, construct, or create. The noun suggestion comes through French from the Latin suggestio, meaning an prompting, proposal, or idea presented for consideration. The phrase therefore reflects the idea of creating or presenting an idea.
Related Concepts
Understanding common verb-and-noun combinations, known as collocations, makes it easier to choose between make and do.
- Collocations: A collocation is a group of words that commonly appear together. English uses make a suggestion, make a decision, and make a recommendation.
- Make versus do: Make often describes creating, producing, or expressing something, while do commonly describes completing an activity, duty, or task.
- Transitive verbs: Both make and do can take objects, but the correct verb depends on the noun that follows. The natural combination is make a suggestion, not do a suggestion.
- Polite recommendations: Expressions such as May I make a suggestion? and Could I offer a suggestion? soften advice and sound respectful.
Examples from Media and Literature
The phrase make a suggestion fits naturally into dialogue, reporting, business writing, and narrative prose. These examples demonstrate how the correct expression can appear in different real-world contexts.
- Workplace drama: In a television office meeting, an employee might say, “I’d like to make a suggestion about the project schedule.”
- News reporting: A report about public policy might explain that a committee made a suggestion for reducing traffic congestion.
- Historical fiction: A character advising a ruler could respectfully ask, “May I make a suggestion, Your Majesty?”
- Literary dialogue: In a novel about family conflict, one character might make a suggestion that helps resolve a misunderstanding.
- Documentary interviews: An expert might make a suggestion for improving public health, education, or environmental protection.
Make a Suggestion Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| offer a suggestion | Present an idea for someone to consider |
| give a suggestion | Provide advice or a possible solution |
| make a recommendation | Advise someone to choose or do something |
| propose an idea | Put forward an idea for discussion |
| put forward a proposal | Present a formal plan or course of action |
| advise | Tell someone what you think they should do |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “do a suggestion” grammatically correct?
No. Do a suggestion is not standard American English. Use make a suggestion, give a suggestion, or offer a suggestion instead.
Question 2: Should I say “make a suggestion” or “give a suggestion”?
Both are understandable and grammatically acceptable. Make a suggestion is the most common standard collocation, while give a suggestion emphasizes providing advice or an idea.
Question 3: Is “offer a suggestion” correct?
Yes. Offer a suggestion is natural and often sounds especially polite because it presents the idea without pressuring the listener to accept it.
Question 4: What is the difference between “make a suggestion” and “make a recommendation”?
A suggestion is usually a general idea or possibility. A recommendation is often stronger and indicates that the speaker believes a particular choice or action is preferable.
Conclusion
Make a suggestion is the correct phrase for presenting an idea or recommendation. Do a suggestion is a nonstandard expression and should be replaced with make a suggestion, give a suggestion, or offer a suggestion. Pro Tip: Using natural collocations such as make a suggestion strengthens your clarity and professionalism in academic, workplace, and everyday communication.
