Preparatory "it" as object

• When an infinitive clause or a noun clause serves as the object of a verb like make, find, consider, owe, or take, we often use preparatory "it" as a placeholder in the object position and move the heavy clause to the end. This structure is essential for professional design leadership communication.
• Pattern
• Verb / Phrase
• Example
• Verb + it + adjective/noun + infinitive/that-clause
• make it clear that…
• We must make it clear that our ethical red lines are non-negotiable.
• Verb + it + adjective + infinitive/that-clause
• find it hard to…
• Many designers in London find it hard to accept consequence scanning.
• Verb + it + adjective + infinitive
• consider it essential to…
• The studio founders in Boston consider it essential to conduct a harm assessment.
• Remember
• Use preparatory "it" when the real object is a long infinitive phrase or a "that" clause.
• Place adjectives or nouns directly after "it" before the infinitive or clause.
• Use this structure with verbs like make, find, consider, owe, and take.
• Examples
• We consider it vital to establish a robust ethics charter in Seattle.
• They take it for granted that every ethical review will pass easily in Manchester.
• She found it difficult to justify the ethical debt accrued in Bristol.
• Common mistakes
• We consider essential to publish the charter.
• We consider it essential to publish the charter.
• They made clear that safety comes first.
• They made it clear that safety comes first.

Complete the sentences

• The board in Chicago will (make clear) ____ user safety is paramount.
• Many studio directors in Austin (find hard) ____ reject lucrative projects.
• We must (consider essential) ____ protect vulnerable users.
• As design leaders, we (owe) ____ to maintain strict ethical standards.
• They tend to (take granted) ____ algorithms are unbiased.
• The team in Glasgow (made clear) ____ whistleblowing channels were active.

Sources: photo by olia danilevich on Pexels