11 Polite Ways to Say “I Want to Make Sure”

“I want to make sure” allows you to check your understanding of something. It would help to know how to say “I want to make sure” in a polite way. This article will explore some good synonyms that work well. The following are some of the best options:

• I want to check
• Could you confirm
• Could you tell me
• I would like to know
• To remind myself
• As a reminder
• Could you help me
• Do you remember
• Do you know
• I’m checking to make sure
• I need your help

Other ways to say “I want to make sure” are “I want to check,” “could you confirm,” and “could you tell me.” These phrases are the best of the ones on the list. They remain polite and show that you’d like some help confirming a situation.

1. I Want to Check

“I want to check” is a great example of another way to say “I want to make sure.” You should use it when you want to check with someone before continuing with an operation. This encourages the other party to confirm things with you to ensure you know what you’re doing.

Using this is great when you’re unsure of something but have a rough idea. A quick reminder might be all you need to get the ball rolling.

• I want to check with you to make sure I know what I’m doing. I’m worried that a few things aren’t going right for me.
• I’m a bit lost. I want to check in to see whether I’ve got this right. Can you help me understand what’s being asked?

2. Could You Confirm

“Could you confirm” is a question alternative that works well. When it comes to thinking of what to say instead of “I want to make sure,” questions like this are very useful.

“Could you confirm?” is great because it checks with the other party to ensure you are correct about something. “Confirm” shows you’re fairly confident, but you would like some verification before moving forward.

• Could you confirm what you want to get out of this project, please? I think that’ll help me come up with a game plan.
• Could you confirm what you mean by this? I have a rough idea, but I don’t want to take action until things get sorted out.

3. Could You Tell Me

“Could you tell me?” is another great alternative. This time, it asks someone to help you understand something by “telling you” exactly what you need to know.

Using this one is better when you’ve completely forgotten how to do something or can’t remember fundamental details. “Tell me” implies you’ve forgotten a lot and need a lot of guidance before you can “make sure” you know what you’re doing.

• Could you tell me what he said? I vaguely remember the discussion, but I’m worried I might get it wrong without your input.
• Could you tell me all about it again? I’m pretty sure I lost the notes that I recorded. I want to be on the same page as you.

4. I Would Like to Know

“I would like to know” is another great synonym for “I want to make sure.” “I would like” is more formal than “I want to.” You can use “know” here to check your certainty on something by finding out what someone else might know.

It’s good to use this phrase when asking someone to help you out. It shows that you need to learn something from them, even if you already have a decent understanding of it. That’s what “making sure” will help you to do.

• I would like to know what I’m supposed to do here. I know you’ve already talked me through it, but I didn’t understand.
• I’m so sorry about all of these questions. I like being thorough, though. I would like to know what to do next.

5. To Remind Myself

“To remind myself” is a great synonym in this situation. It shows that you’re asking someone something you might already know to “remind yourself” of the situation at hand.

It’s another way of checking to ensure you’re correct about something. You might already have a decent understanding, but “reminding yourself” will help to push you over the edge into full confidence.

• To remind myself about this project, I’d love your help. I think I’ve got most of it down, but there are some grey areas.
• I’m not sure where to take all of this. I need you to help remind me about what comes next. Could you clue me in?

6. As a Reminder

“As a reminder” is great to use as well. It shows that you might need someone to remind you of something, so you’re coming to them to ask for help. It gives them a chance to explain something more concisely to help you wrap your head around it.

This phrase may also allow you to set a reminder for yourself to help you remember something in the future. You might find this useful if you’re prone to forgetting how to complete something, as it will indicate what you need to do next time.

• I’m not quite sure I grasp the concept. It would be useful for you to talk to me as a reminder of what’s expected. What do you think?
• As a reminder, do you think you could talk me through this again? I’ve made a few errors, and I’m not sure how.

7. Could You Help Me

“Could you help me?” is a direct question that asks someone for help. It shows that you might need to “make sure” about a few details, which is what you hope their “help” will achieve.

If someone helps you, they might be able to fill you with more confidence or certainty. You will never know until you ask, after all.

• Could you help me figure out what he said? I remember some of it, but I’m clearly still messing things up. I want to be certain.
• I’m not quite sure I’m following along. I want to ensure I know what’s happening. Could you help me understand all of this, please?

8. Do You Remember

“Do you remember?” is another great question alternative. This time, it asks someone to check back on previous notes to see what they remember.

You might find this one works if you were both present at the same meeting or situation you’re enquiring about. It asks them to check what they know to see if it matches what you think is correct.

• Do you remember what we were supposed to do with this? I need to ask before getting stuck in with what I think is right.
• Do you remember what we need to do next? I’ve got it written down somewhere, but I can’t find the notes.

9. Do You Know

“Do you know?” checks someone else’s knowledge to help give you peace of mind. It asks someone else whether they have the information you’re looking for.

If they have it, they can help you feel more confident. If they don’t, you might need to ask someone else until you find a suitable helper.

• Do you know what he said? I don’t remember much about the meeting, and I really don’t want to let him down again.
• Do you know what I should do with all these moving parts? I feel like they’ve thrown me into the deep end, and I’m scared!

10. I’m Checking to Make Sure

“I’m checking to make sure” lets someone know your intentions. It shows them that you’re asking them what you need to do to make certain of something. Including “checking” shows that you’re taking the initiative to check with them first.

This phrase is very useful when you want to confirm something with someone who knows better than you. It’s best to use this on someone who clearly has more experience than you and might be able to help.

• I’m checking to make sure I’ve got this right before continuing. Can you help me understand whether this is the correct thing to do?
• I’m checking to make sure I know what you’re asking of me. I want us to be in agreement before I waste my time with this stuff.

11. I Need Your Help

“I need your help” is a plea for somebody to help you, especially if you’re uncertain about something and they can fill in some gaps. It is synonymous with “I want to make sure” because it confirms all the details you might need to know when asking for “help.”

Obviously, “I need your help” applies to many other contexts. In this case, the “help” in question relates to “making sure” of something. It helps you to confirm what you might already know.

• I need your help with this. You’re much more talented than I am, so I could do with your input now.
• I need your help. I know it’s a lot to ask, but you’ll help me feel more certain about everything that’s going on. Do you mind?

Is It Polite to Say “I Want to Make Sure”?

“I want to make sure” is polite and correct to say. You may use it formally or informally to show that you need confirmation about something.

“I want to make sure” lets someone know that you don’t have all the details or might need confirmation about something. It shows that you need them to verify some details, which could help you to understand the full story.