make a list

Meaning

This expression means to write down a series of items, names, or tasks, usually to help with organization or memory. In business, it is a key phrase for task management, planning, and organizing projects.

Examples

• Let's make a list of all the tasks we need to complete this week.

  Let's make a list of all the tasks we need to complete this week.

• I always make a list before I go to a client meeting.

  I always make a list before I go to a client meeting.

• Can you make a list of the people who RSVP'd to the event?

  Can you make a list of the people who RSVP'd to the event?

• To stay organized, I make a list of my daily priorities every morning.

  To stay organized, I make a list of my daily priorities every morning.

• We need to make a list of office supplies we are running low on.

  We need to make a list of office supplies we are running low on.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to do a list of my tasks.

  ✓ I need to make a list of my tasks.

  In English, we use the verb 'make' with 'list', not 'do'.

• ✗ She wrote a list with all the client names.

  ✓ She made a list of all the client names.

  While 'wrote a list' is grammatically correct, 'made a list of' is the standard collocation used in professional environments.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Before we start the project, let's ___ of everything we need.

  💡 Write down the items.

  Show answer

  make a list

• I always ___ of my daily tasks so I don't forget anything.

  💡 Create a written sequence of tasks.

  Show answer

  make a list