I took used

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I took used" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It seems to be an incomplete or incorrect expression, and it is unclear what context it is intended for. Example: "I took used items to the donation center." (assuming the intended meaning was about taking used items).

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I took used comic books and resold them when I was five years old.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

This picture was the first picture that I took using flashlight.

The New York Times

"In the meantime," he added, "I'm going to take every sensible, responsible action that I can take using my authority as president".

The New York Times

"I told my manager that I'd be going through IVF treatment and might need a day or two off, which I would take using my annual leave.

The Guardian

This was the first of many National Cycle Network routes I'd take, using lines axed by Dr Beeching in the 60s.

The Guardian - Travel

I start with a picture taken using my Nikon D90 camera.

Vice

He told me to call him Leopold; in a short time, I took to using the diminutive, Poldek.

The Guardian - Film

I take my used batteries and toxic light bulbs to the recycling center.

Huffington Post

I took this photo using this hip new Application called Instagram.

Vice

I took a picture by using my mobile phone.

Huffington Post

So I took the liberty of using her name for the very first Zelda title".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If your intent is to mention the action of taking something and also mention that it is used for another purpose, ensure that you use a well-structured sentence, like "I took this photo using this Application called Instagram".

Common error

Avoid using "I took used" without a clear object or context. This phrase is grammatically incorrect and can lead to confusion. Instead, specify what you took and clarify that it was previously used, as in "I took used books to the library".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I took used" is typically intended to describe an action involving something that is second-hand or previously owned. Ludwig AI flags this phrase as incorrect, it's an incomplete or incorrect expression, and it is unclear what context it is intended for.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

15%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I took used" is grammatically incorrect and requires additional context to be meaningful. Ludwig AI marks this phrase as incorrect due to its incompleteness. To improve clarity, it's recommended to use more precise language, such as "I bought a used car" or "I took used books". The primary contexts where this phrase appears are news and media, but its incorrectness makes it unsuitable for formal writing. Consider using alternatives like "I acquired secondhand" to ensure grammatical correctness and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I took secondhand

Replaces "used" with "secondhand" to indicate something previously owned.

I bought used

Replaces "took" with "bought" to suggest a purchase of a used item.

I acquired used

Replaces "took" with "acquired" to suggest obtaining a used item.

I obtained used

Replaces "took" with "obtained" to suggest getting hold of something used.

I purchased used

Replaces "took" with "purchased" to suggest a formal purchase of a used item.

I accepted used

Replaces "took" with "accepted" to suggest receiving something that is used.

I received used

Replaces "took" with "received" to suggest obtaining something used.

I utilized used

Replaces "took" with "utilized" to suggest to make practical and effective use of (something used).

I handled used

Replaces "took" with "handled" to suggest to manage something that is used.

I managed used

Replaces "took" with "managed" to suggest to be in charge of something that is used.

FAQs

What is wrong with the phrase "I took used"?

The phrase "I took used" is grammatically incorrect. The word "used" needs to be followed by a noun (e.g. "I took used books"). Without a noun, the sentence is incomplete and doesn't make sense.

What can I say instead of "I took used"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "I bought "used item"", "I took "used goods"", or "I got a "secondhand item"".

How to properly use 'used' in a sentence after 'I took'?

After "I took", 'used' should be followed by a noun to describe what was taken. For example, "I took used clothes to the donation center" is grammatically correct.

Is "I took used" ever correct?

The phrase "I took used" is rarely correct by itself. It requires additional context to be grammatically sound. For example, "I took a picture using" is not gramatically wrong.