Have you ever heard someone say, “I make a point of thanking my students at the end of every class,” and wondered what that actually means?
Make a point of isn’t a literal action; it’s an idiom that signals intentional effort—something you do deliberately because you consider it important.
If you say it the way true linguists do, you’ll nail the nuance, beat the confusion, and impress your friends with crisp, purposeful speaking. This article will unpack the exact definition, show real‑world examples, give you practice drills, and make sure you never misplace that little gem in your sentences again. Let’s dive in, and make a point of mastering this phrase today!
1. The Heart‑of‑the‑Matter Definition
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Literal words | Make (to create), a point (a goal or target), of (indicating purpose) |
| Actual meaning | Deliberately doing something because you think it matters. |
| Scope | Usually followed by a gerund (verb + –ing) or an infinitive phrase. |
| Tone | Positive, proactive, and sometimes suggestive of habit. |
Key take‑away: Cutting to the chase, make a point of means intentionally focus on doing something.
2. Why We Use It
- Clarity of purpose – communicates “I am intentionally putting effort into this.”
- Habit reinforcement – signals a repeated, conscious action.
- Cross‑cultural usage – common in American and British English; rarely appears with other dialects.
3. Common Structures in Sentence Building
| Structure | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Subject + make a point of + gerund | I make a point of reviewing my notes every night. | Gerund emphasises ongoing action. |
| Subject + make a point of + infinitive | She made a point of saying “thank you” in every meeting. | Infinitive highlights intention. |
| Subject + make a point of + noun phrase | They make a point of eating breakfast together. | Works with noun phrases if the action is static. |
| Negative form | I don’t make a point of watching the news before bed. | Good for expressing lack of habit. |
Tip: Keep “make a point of” right after the subject; moving it later can blur urgency.
4. Usage Variations: “Make it a Point to”
| Variation | When to Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Make a point of | Habitual intent (speaking in present or simple past). | “Every day, I make a point of stretching for five minutes.” |
| Make it a point to | Emphasises the specific task or action you prioritize. | “I made it a point to bring lunch to the office.” |
| Make a point about | Discusses the importance of a topic, not the action itself. | “In his speech, he made a point about climate change.” |
Pro tip: Make it a point to usually precedes an infinitive, whereas make a point of usually follows a gerund (but exceptions exist—feel free to experiment after mastering the basics).
5. Practical Examples (From Simple to Complex)
| Context | Example Sentence | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Informal chat | “I make a point of asking for feedback every week.” | Continual habit, clear purpose. |
| Email to a boss | “I made a point of reviewing the budget before the deadline.” | Shows professionalism. |
| Advice to a friend | “You should make a point of taking a break—you’ll feel better.” | Suggests intentional action. |
| Habitual routine | “Every morning, I make a point of journaling, regardless of the weather.” | Emphasises consistency. |
| Negative pattern | “She doesn’t make a point of waking up early, so she’s always rushed.” | Conveys lack of deliberate effort. |
| Formal report | “We made a point of documenting all changes to ensure audit readiness.” | Highlights intent in professional context. |
6. Semantic SEO Boost
| LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) Term | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Make a point of doing something | Absolutely relevant; shows variation. |
| How to make a point of | High search intent for learning. |
| Making a point to | Common alternative; audiences often mix. |
| Idiom meaning make a point | FAQs and definition queries. |
| Make a point of staying healthy | Lifestyle article optimization. |
Quick SEO Hack: Sprinkle these LSI keywords naturally in sub‑headings and throughout the article (without keyword stuffing). They help search engines understand topic depth.
7. Rich Vocabulary Matters: Why It Helps
- Precision: “make a point of” is more specific than “do”.
- Engagement: Readers enjoy dynamism; a richer vocabulary keeps them hooked.
- Credibility: Using idiomatic and figurative language signals linguistic fluidity.
8. Structured Presentation of Make a Point Of (Five Categories)
| Category | Sample Adjectives | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| Personality traits | conscientious, proactive, thoughtful | “My teacher makes a point of conscientiously reviewing every assignment.” |
| Physical descriptors | organized, methodical | “I make a point of methodically… your desk looks neat.” |
| Role‑based descriptors | diligent, responsible | “The manager made a point of responsibly following safety checks.” |
| Cultural/background adjectives | methodical, traditional | “In many traditional societies, people make a point of respectfully…” |
| Emotional attributes | empathetic, supportive | “She made a point of empathetically listening to my concerns.” |
These examples show how you can vividly paint the action with quality adjectives.
9. Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
| Mistake | Why It Happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Mixing infinitive and gerund interchangeably | Learners think both are acceptable. | Use gerund after make a point of and infinitive after make it a point to. |
| Dropping the verb after the phrase | “I make a point of.” | Always add a verb or noun phrase immediately after. |
| Using the phrase in negative incorrectly | “I don’t make a point of to ….” | Keep the negative inside the verb phrase: “I don’t make a point of doing …”. |
| Misplacing the phrase in a complex sentence | “I did make a point of after finishing.” | Keep make a point of close to subject: “After finishing, I made a point of…”. |
| Ignoring context | Using make a point of for irrelevant action | Reserve phrase for repetitive, intentional habits. |
10. Tips for Success
- Repetition – Write five sentences using make a point of daily.
- Listen – Pay attention to native speakers; capture nuance.
- Visual aid – Map the phrase on a diagram: Subject → make a point of → Verb.
- Teach – Explain the phrase to a friend; teaching deepens retention.
- Mix – Try both forms (make a point of vs make it a point to) to see which feels natural.
11. Demo: Correct Order in Complex Sentences
| Sentence (Incorrect) | Why Wrong | Revised Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| I after finishing make a point of reviewing the notes. | “make a point of” misplaced after subject. | After finishing, I made a point of reviewing the notes. |
| She made a point of during the meeting to propose a change. | “to propose” should follow immediately. | During the meeting, she made a point of proposing a change. |
| They make a point of in the morning to exercise. | Defective prepositional phrase. | Every morning, they make a point of exercising. |
12. Practice Exercises
Exercise 1 – Fill in the Blank
- Karen always ___ a point of ___ sharing her insights during group discussions.
- We ___ a point of ___ keeping track of our expenses this month.
- Don’t ___ a point of ___ forgetting the lunch box.
Answers
- makes a point of sharing
- make a point of tracking
- make a point of
Exercise 2 – Error Correction
She made a point of staying for the dinner.
Correct: She made a point of staying for the dinner.
(Tip: “staying” is already correct; no change required here – the sentence is fine.)
Exercise 3 – Identification
Which sentence contains the phrase correctly?
- “During the meeting, we made a point of making a suggestion.”
- “I make a point of reading the book to finish.”
- “They make a point of to keep the garden tidy.”
Answer: 1 (and 2 if re‑phrased with gerund: “reading”).
Exercise 4 – Create Your Own
Write three sentences about your weekly routine, using make a point of correctly. Share them with a friend and ask for feedback.
13. Deep Dive into Linguistic Nuances
-
Causation vs. Habit – The phrase couching as a habit places the action in an ongoing pattern, while to forms emphasise a specific decision.
-
Aspect – Gerund usage aligns with progressive aspect (reviewing). Infinitive usage aligns with purpose aspect (to review).
-
Negation – Place the negative inside the main verb phrase: “I don’t make a point of…” not “I make a point of not…” (though that can be used for a different nuance).
14. Final Quick Fact Box
| Key Point | Quick Tip |
|---|---|
| Remember the verb after make a point of | Use a gerund or infinitive; never leave it hanging. |
| Stick to the subject‑phrase pattern | Subject → make a point of → action. |
| Use make it a point to when advising or emphasising specific tasks. | Infinitive verb follows to. |
| Keep vocabulary alive – add rich adjectives to paint the picture. | Conscientious, methodical, empathetic, etc. |
Conclusion
You’ve got the mechanics down now: make a point of signals intentional effort, and with the structures, examples, and practice drills above, you’re ready to wield it like a seasoned English speaker. Remember, the key is intent—each use shows you’re not just doing something, you’re doing it deliberately because you value it. Make a point of using this phrase correctly, and you’ll add nuance, clarity, and confidence to every conversation.