Formal/Strong:
* Guaranteeing: Implies a higher level of certainty than ensuring.
* Securing: Emphasizes the act of making something safe or certain.
* Confirming: Focuses on verifying or verifying something is true.
* Assuring: Similar to ensuring, but implies a greater degree of confidence.
* Safeguarding: Emphasizes protection from harm or loss.
* Protecting: Similar to safeguarding, but with a stronger focus on prevention.
Informal/Casual:
* Making sure: A simple and straightforward alternative.
* Seeing to it that: Emphasizes taking action to achieve something.
* Making certain: Similar to making sure, but with a slightly stronger emphasis on certainty.
* Looking after: Suggests a proactive approach to ensuring something.
* Taking care of: Similar to looking after, but with a broader meaning.
More Specific:
* Establishing: Used when creating something or putting something into place.
* Maintaining: Used when keeping something in a specific state.
* Promoting: Used when encouraging something to happen.
* Facilitating: Used when making something easier to achieve.
The best word will depend on the specific situation and the desired tone. Consider the following factors:
* Context: What is being ensured?
* Tone: How formal or casual is the writing?
* Emphasis: What is the most important aspect to convey?
For example:
* Instead of "ensuring safety," you might say "guaranteeing safety" to emphasize a high level of certainty.
* Instead of "ensuring the project is completed on time," you might say "making sure the project is completed on time" for a more casual tone.
Ultimately, the best alternative word is the one that most accurately reflects the meaning and intention of the original phrase.