“Make sure to” vs. “Make sure you”

I am a middle-aged native British English speaker. Throughout most of my life, in the UK the phrase "Make sure you..." has been used universally. For example: "Make sure you collect your belongings before you leave the train."

However, in the last couple of years I've noticed what I'm guessing is an American usage creeping into the UK, even in corporate communications and announcements. For example "Make sure to collect your belongings before you leave the train."

Hearing "make sure to..." really grates on me: to my ears, "be sure to.." is fine, but not "make sure to...". Has "make sure to..." always been correct, but has just become more common recently, or am I right in thinking that it's wrong, at least in the UK?

Edit

I am aware that there is a similar question regarding "make sure to" vs. "be sure to". Thanks to DjinTonic for providing the Ngram showing that "make sure to collect" is rarely used in British English, which isn't explained by the other question.

On the other hand, the Ngram also shows that "make sure you collect" wasn't used much before 1960, so perhaps they are both incorrect!


You are grating unnecessarily and against the run of history. Although to make sure is often followed by (i) a content clause or (ii) “of”, “to make sure to” has been used at least since the early 18th century.

1706 tr. Thomas à Kempis Imitation of Christ iii. xlv. 228 How often have I made sure to meet with Fidelity, where I have found none

1757 Ten Plagues of Eng. viii. 33 The old Leech will always make sure to be pretty safe in his Bargains.

1889 F. C. Philips Young Ainslie's Courtship I. vii. 87 He just waited for a few hours to make sure of his position.

Probably related to

OED

P7. to be sure.
a. Preceding an infinitive or other clause: to be careful to do something; to ensure that one does something. Chiefly in imperative, esp. in be sure to: take care to, don't fail to. Also in to be sure and in later, colloquial use (cf. and conj.1 10).

c1555 Manifest Detection Diceplay sig. Ciiiv Haue in a redines to be roisted in when time shalbe, your fine chetes of all sorts, be sure to haue in store of such as these be.