If you ever wondered about using “make do” or “make due?”. Here's the quick answer you need.
Make do means managing with what you have—even if it’s not ideal.
Example: We don’t have extra chairs, so we’ll have to make do with these.
The point is, “make do” is the correct phrase, and “make due” is almost always a mistake.
This article will tell you which form to use and why, so you can stop guessing and start speaking and writing confidently.
What “Make Do” Means
Make do is a simple expression meaning to cope, manage, or be okay with limited resources.
You’re not getting exactly what you want, but you’re handling the situation anyway.
Here’s how people use it in everyday life:
- We forgot to buy butter, so we’ll make do with olive oil.
- My laptop is slow, but I make do until I can buy a new one.
- There weren’t enough blankets, so we made do with sweaters.
It’s practical, flexible, and commonly used in both casual and professional English.
Why People Use “Make Due” by Mistake
Many people write “make due” because “do” and “due” sound almost identical when spoken, especially in fast or regional speech.
The ears hear “doo”, so the brain guesses the spelling.
Pronunciation differences also play a role—some dialects soften the final vowel sound, making do and due nearly indistinguishable.
The same thing happens when you notice the slight difference between “your” and “you’re”.
These homophones are known as common causes of confusion.
As a result, incorrect versions like these appear frequently:
- We’ll have to make due until payday.
- The team made due with old equipment.
- Let’s just make due with what we have.
Even native speakers slip up, which is why this confusion is so common.
How to Use “Make Do” Correctly
The most common structure is: make do with + noun.
This pattern shows what limited resource you’re dealing with.
Correct vs. incorrect
To help you notice small mistakes easily about the usage, take a look at the table below:
Correct (“Make Do”) | Incorrect (“Make Due”) |
| We’ll make do with the budget we have. | We’ll make due with the budget we have. |
| They had to make do with old equipment. | They had to make due with old equipment. |
| I can make do with this laptop for now. | I can make due with this laptop for now. |
| We’ll make do with the ingredients we already bought. | We’ll make due with the ingredients we already bought. |
| The kids learned to make do with fewer toys. | The kids learned to make due with fewer toys. |
Knowing this comparison will help you a lot to improve your grammar, gradually leading you to speak natural and fluently.
Copy-and-paste templates
This expression usage may make you confused, even when you’ve read the whole explanation.
Hence, here are some templates you can use to create your own sentences:
- We’ll make do with [noun].
- They made do with [noun] because [reason].
- I can make do with [noun] for now.
These plug-and-play structures help you use “make do” correctly every time.
Conclusion
Remember, the correct expression is “make do,” not “make due.”
Use it whenever you want to say you’re managing with limited resources or less-than-ideal conditions.
Want to continue improving your English, explore more collocations, confusing phrases, and grammar tips?
Check out EZClass and more articles on the EZClass Blog to know them while improving your English!
