The phrase "a while to gather" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the time needed to collect or assemble something, whether it be information, resources, or people.
Example: "It took a while to gather all the necessary documents for the application."
Alternatives: "some time to collect" or "a bit of time to assemble".
It may take a while to gather poor Jones up.
As a conductor, Nelson can be spacious, which means the evening takes a while to gather momentum, though the final scenes are unquestionably moving.
But it takes a while to gather velocity, spending lots of time along the way chronicling the author's spin into "a completely deviant and ridiculously expensive life in Manhattan," after the success of "Jarhead" (which was made into a movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal).
9.05am: Now I've heard it suggested that, like a old-fashioned Volvo on a cold winter's morning, World Cups can take a while to gather momentum - and that initial matches are often more tentative because no one wants to lose their first game (something suggested by Northy and birdistheword below the line and Thomas Keep in an email to me).
Though the crime story takes a while to gather momentum, once Shardlake finds himself in real jeopardy it quickly picks up pace, all the way to a shocking climax that promises to mark a new chapter for Shardlake, and for England.
"We like to have RCs (release candidates) out for a while to gather feedback".
Speaking questions -- you'll be given a topic to listen about, a little while to gather your thoughts, and then time to speak.
"It's going to take us a little while to gather everything together," she says.
You're 2-0 up against 10 men and comfortable and to come away with nothing is quite difficult and will take a little while to gather my thoughts.
He returned with the official allied mission, acting as interpreter for a while to the German forces, and gathered material for Fire And Sword In Shansi: The Story Of The Martyrdom Of Foreigners And Chinese Christians.
It was originally geared towards physicians, but after a while it started to gather interest from the general public.
