If you’ve been given vague instructions, it’s always good to seek clarity and certainty before you proceed.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of synonyms for the phrase “I just want to make sure.” With these phrases in your arsenal, you can seek confirmation in both formal and informal settings.
Other Ways to Say “I Just Want to Make Sure”
- For the sake of clarity
- Just so we’re clear
- Just making sure
- I want a guarantee
- I want to verify
- I’d like to ensure
- Just to confirm
- In the interest of clarity
- I simply want to double-check
- To reiterate
- I want to make certain
- I just want to determine
- I would like to certify
- I want to substantiate
- I’m seeing to
- I want to affirm
- To be clear
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “I just want to make sure” is a grammatically correct phrase that is most suitable for informal settings.
- In more formal settings, you can say “for the sake of clarity.”
- As an informal alternative, you can say “just so we’re clear.”
Keep reading if you want to see how we use our choice of formal and informal synonyms for “I just want to make sure” in a few examples.
After that, we’ll discuss the correctness of the original phrase. Is it necessary to include “just”?
For the Sake of Clarity (Formal)
If you’re looking for a formal synonym for “I just want to make sure,” we recommend the phrase “for the sake of clarity.”
Although this phrase is no less wordy than the original, it has a more formal and polite tone. This makes it suitable to use in an email to your superiors or clients at work.
Like the original phrase, you can use this one to double-check instructions at work or school. However, it uses more formal and professional phrasing, so it wouldn’t hurt to use it instead of “I just want to make sure.”
Consider the email example below to see this phrase in action:
Dear Mr. Hill,
I have received your instructions with thanks.
For the sake of clarity, are all of Mr. Hett’s children, including Bella and James, included in the will?
Regards,
Jill Trim
Just So We’re Clear (Informal)
Another way to say “I just want to make sure” is “just so we’re clear.” You can use this phrase in more casual circumstances to confirm certain information.
As it is an informal synonym, we wouldn’t recommend using this phrase in an email to your boss or an important client. However, you can use it in a message to a coworker, especially if there is an informal dynamic in the office.
“I just want to make sure” is just as effective as this alternative. However, it never hurts to mix up your language from time to time.
Therefore, consider the examples below to see how you might use this phrase in practice:
Just so we’re clear, you want a separate file for each of Mr. Hett’s heirs, correct?
Let’s go over what you’ll need again, just so we’re clear.
Is It Correct to Say “I Just Want to Make Sure”?
The phrase “I just want to make sure” is grammatically correct and best suited for informal circumstances.
There are certainly more formal alternatives that might be better suited for highly professional correspondence. However, in informal circumstances, the original phrase is perfectly effective.
Therefore, you can use our list if you want a more formal synonym. Or if you just want to shake up your phrasing and keep your work emails diverse.
However, if you’d like to use the original phrase, here are a few possible variations that you can use in a business setting:
- I just want to make sure that you have received my email
- I just want to make sure we are on the same page
- I just want to make sure that I understand correctly
And here are a few that you might use when checking in one someone in informal settings:
- I just want to make sure you’re okay
- I just want to make sure everything is ok
If you’re trying to figure out whether there’s any difference between saying “I just want to make sure” and “I want to make sure” or “I want to ensure,” we’ll touch on that next!
Essentially, all three of these variations can be used interchangeably. After all, “ensure” is a direct synonym for “make sure.”
Moreover, the word “just” in this phrase means “simply.” Its inclusion implies that you are making a simple request for clarity or assurance.
In summary, “I just want to make sure” is grammatically correct and a suitable phrase to use in informal settings.
If you think you might use our list of synonyms in the future, go ahead and bookmark this page so you can return to it with ease!