make an outline
/meɪk ən ˈaʊt.laɪn/
Meaning
This phrase means to create a structured plan or summary of the main points of a piece of writing, speech, or project. It is used to organize ideas logically before drafting the actual content. This is a crucial step in academic writing to ensure a coherent flow of arguments.
Examples
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Before you start writing your term paper, you should make an outline to organize your main arguments.
Before you start writing your term paper, you should make an outline to organize your main arguments.
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The professor asked us to make an outline of our thesis proposals by Friday.
The professor asked us to make an outline of our thesis proposals by Friday.
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I always make an outline because it saves me a lot of time during the drafting phase.
I always make an outline because it saves me a lot of time during the drafting phase.
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She helped me make an outline for my presentation so that the transition between slides would be smoother.
She helped me make an outline for my presentation so that the transition between slides would be smoother.
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If you don't make an outline first, your essay might end up feeling disorganized and hard to follow.
If you don't make an outline first, your essay might end up feeling disorganized and hard to follow.
Common Mistakes
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✗ I need to do an outline for my history essay.
✓ I need to make an outline for my history essay.
While 'do' is sometimes understood, 'make' or 'write' are the standard collocations. 'Make an outline' is the most natural choice.
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✗ She made a draft outline before starting.
✓ She made a rough outline before starting.
To describe an initial, incomplete outline, native speakers use 'rough outline' rather than 'draft outline'.
Related Expressions
Practice
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It's much easier to write a research paper if you ___ first.
💡 Create a structured plan of your main points.
Show answer
make an outline
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Our teacher advised us to ___ before we began the timed essay exam.
💡 Organize your thoughts quickly on paper.
Show answer
make an outline