assuming office

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "assuming office" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the act of officially taking on a position of authority or responsibility, often in a political context. Example: "The new president will be assuming office on January 20th."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's me," he said, just before assuming office.

The New York Times

Since assuming office, gays have criticised him for forgetting them.

The Economist

Obama would make history by simply assuming office.

The New York Times

Since assuming office, he has done many of the right things.

The Economist

The Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, started an anticorruption campaign after assuming office in November.

The New York Times

Within days of assuming office, however, he had confirmed his reputation for indecision.

The Guardian

There was a small but telling example within a week of the administration's assuming office.

The Guardian

Upon assuming office he reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to the peace treaty with Israel.

The New Yorker

Since assuming office last month, Governor Schwarzenegger has focused almost exclusively on state finances.

The New York Times

The 115th Congress, upon assuming office in January, will historically be the most diverse.

The Guardian

That brought the amount he has collected since assuming office in January 2014 to $3.3 million.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "assuming office" when emphasizing the formal commencement of duties or responsibilities in a new role, particularly in political or organizational contexts.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "assuming". For example, it's "assuming office" not "assuming to office" or "assuming into office".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assuming office" functions as a verbal noun phrase, typically used as an adverbial modifier indicating the point in time when someone begins their official duties. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Science

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "assuming office" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to describe the act of formally beginning a new role, particularly in political or organizational contexts. Ludwig confirms the phrase's validity and provides numerous examples of its usage across various sources. While alternatives like "taking office" or "entering office" exist, "assuming office" maintains a neutral to formal register, making it suitable for professional communication. Common errors include incorrect prepositional usage, such as "assuming into office". Therefore, understanding its proper context and grammatical structure is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taking office

Replaces "assuming" with "taking", a direct synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

entering office

Substitutes "assuming" with "entering", highlighting the act of starting a term.

beginning term

A more concise way of expressing the start of an official period.

starting in the role

A straightforward and less formal way of saying someone is beginning their job.

taking up duties

Focuses on the responsibilities that begin with the new position.

commencing tenure

Formal alternative using "tenure" to emphasize the period of holding office.

inaugurating the position

Highlights the ceremonial aspect of starting a new role, often in politics.

swearing in

Specifically refers to the oath-taking ceremony when starting an office.

acceding to power

Suggests a formal or historical transition to a position of authority.

embarking on leadership

Emphasizes the start of a journey in a leadership role.

FAQs

What does "assuming office" mean?

The phrase "assuming office" refers to the act of formally taking on a position of authority or responsibility, typically in a governmental or organizational context.

What are some alternatives to "assuming office"?

You can use alternatives like "taking office", "entering office", or "commencing tenure" depending on the desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "assuming into office"?

No, the correct phrase is "assuming office". The prepositions "to" or "into" are not needed or grammatically correct in this context.

How is "assuming office" different from "swearing in"?

"Assuming office" is a broader term for taking on a new position, while "swearing in" specifically refers to the oath-taking ceremony that often accompanies the start of a political or official role.