become picked up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become picked up" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a process of being collected or gathered, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "After the event, the items will become picked up by the volunteers."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Within one month, the issues we are interested have become picked up by the nation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

So if that is who you want to become, pick up the hobby.

WikiHow

"He was asked to leave voluntarily and instead became violent, picked up a bottle as a weapon and pulled all of the wires out of the DJ booth, causing damage to the property.

Vice

That's why even the most grotesque stuff, like Giuliani's claim that he's a rescue worker too, or Romney's remark that his sons are serving the country by helping him become president, doesn't get picked up.

Huffington Post

That was until 2014, when Emotional Fusebox – the short that would later become Adult Life Skills – got picked up for the London film festival.

The Guardian - Film

Timothy Farrell, the store's wine buyer, became curious and picked up two cases each of Barboursville nebbiolo and viognier.

The New York Times

The slow and steady novel I became used to picked up its pace, with the suspense building as the ending approached; particular subplots tied-up in preparation for the sequel, others left after a cliff hanger ending.

The Guardian

Some business owners have become chauffeurs, picking up their workers, while other workers are relying on bicycles.

The New York Times

But in recent months it has become to pick up.

BBC

If handled correctly early in life, guinea pigs become amenable to being picked up and carried, and seldom bite or scratch.

Wikipedia

It became the authoritative version, picked up by the rest of the press.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "become picked up" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "be selected" or "get chosen".

Common error

The phrase "become picked up" can sound unnatural. Ensure you're not overusing passive voice, which can weaken your writing. Prefer direct, active voice constructions where appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become picked up" attempts to express a passive process of selection or acquisition. As Ludwig AI indicates, the construction is somewhat awkward and not the most grammatically sound way to express this idea.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "become picked up" might be understandable in certain contexts, it is generally considered grammatically awkward and not preferred in formal writing. As Ludwig AI points out, it's advisable to opt for clearer and more standard alternatives such as "be selected", "get chosen", or "was picked up". The phrase appears infrequently and its usage isn't strongly associated with any particular domain, even if it can be found in News and Media or Wiki sources. Therefore, it's best to exercise caution and choose more conventional phrasing for improved clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be taken up

Similar in meaning but uses a different phrasal verb.

get selected

Focuses on the selection aspect but is more direct.

be chosen

Emphasizes the act of being chosen from a larger group.

become adopted

Highlights the process of something being accepted and used.

get embraced

Focuses on the positive acceptance or enthusiastic adoption of something.

be gathered

Implies a collection or accumulation, altering the sense slightly.

be collected

Similar to 'be gathered', indicating a process of collecting items.

be received

Focuses on the reception or acceptance of something.

gain traction

Emphasizes increasing popularity or acceptance.

gain acceptance

Highlights the process of something being widely accepted.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "become picked up"?

You can use alternatives like "be selected", "get chosen", or "become adopted" depending on the context.

Is "become picked up" grammatically correct?

While understandable, the phrase "become picked up" is not considered grammatically ideal. It's better to use more standard phrasing such as "was picked up" or "got picked up".

How can I use "picked up" correctly in a sentence?

Use "picked up" with an auxiliary verb like "was", "is", or "got". For example, "The signal was picked up" or "The item got picked up".

What does it mean for something to "get picked up"?

To "get picked up" generally means to be selected, chosen, or acquired. It can also mean that something has been collected or received.