before taking matters

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before taking matters" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the need to consider a situation or issue before acting on it. Example: "I suggest we discuss our options before taking matters into our own hands."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Watson then watched a succession of team-mates toss away their  wickets before taking matters into his own hands.

Independent

He had previously encouraged interest from Real Madrid by stating it would be hard to reject the Spanish club, then suggested it is time for a "change of environment" before taking matters further and announcing his desire to quit the Premier League.

The Guardian - Sport

Ronaldo teed up Karim Benzema to bundle home his 50th Liga goal, before taking matters into his own hands with a stunning second from just outside the box before the half hour mark.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Whereas a diplomatic course with Tehran must be fully explored by the US, it must commence immediately so that any possible resolution to the nuclear impasse can be found within 2009, a timeframe that is considered safe before Israel contemplates taking matters into its own hands.

Huffington Post

This morning, even before the killings, some settlers were taking matters into their own hands by blocking roads in three separate spots in the West Bank, stoning Palestinian cars and setting fire to Palestinian fields.

The New York Times

Bensasson was signed up for two years without a partner before she took matters into her own hands and contacted her local MP, Lib Dem John Leech.

The Guardian

Before you take matters into your own hands, you might want to talk to local Fish and Wildlife authorities to discuss the best way to get rid of them in your area.

WikiHow

In fact, because this particular airline had lost my luggage both times I'd traveled with them before, I decided to take matters into my own hands to prevent it from happening again.

Huffington Post

Last Tuesday, the day the auction was to end, bidding for the letter stood at $274 before Mr. Romito took matters in his own hands and indicated that he was willing to go as high as $1,777.77, should a bidding war break out.

The New York Times

Before I finally took matters into my own hands, I let men control how our sex was going to go.

Vice

When Juliet yells to Samantha, "I can't be fixed, do you understand?" (Before I Fall, 467), Samantha takes matters into her own hands to prevent the suicide thus resulting in her own death, not Juliets'.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before taking matters" to emphasize the importance of considering all aspects of a situation before intervening or acting decisively. This adds a layer of thoughtfulness to your writing.

Common error

While effective, avoid using "before taking matters" too frequently. Vary your language with alternatives like "before acting" or "prior to intervening" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before taking matters" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating when an action should occur. It describes the temporal relationship between considering a situation and acting upon it. Ludwig shows that this phrase is often used to emphasize the need for careful consideration.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "before taking matters" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is used to emphasize the importance of careful consideration before acting. The phrase is typically found in News & Media contexts. It's advisable to use this phrase when suggesting caution or thoughtfulness before intervening in a situation. Remember to consider alternative phrases to avoid overuse. While the phrase is valid, the choice of words has to be adequate to your context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to acting

Emphasizes the temporal sequence of considering something before acting.

before intervening

Highlights the idea of not getting involved immediately.

before getting involved

Focuses on the aspect of involvement and the timing of it.

before assuming control

Suggests holding off on taking charge of a situation.

prior to addressing the situation

Implies a formal approach to handling a specific situation.

before stepping in

Highlights the act of getting involved in a situation.

before taking charge

Focuses on the act of assuming control or leadership.

before addressing the issue

Similar to addressing the situation but focuses on a specific problem.

before handling the problem

Suggests pausing before dealing with a particular problem.

before assuming responsibility

Implies a pause before accepting accountability.

FAQs

What does "before taking matters into your own hands" mean?

It means to consider other options or wait for official processes to occur "before acting" independently to resolve a problem.

What is a good alternative to "before taking matters"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "before intervening", "prior to acting", or "before assuming control".

How to use "before taking matters" in a sentence?

You can use it to advise caution, such as "I suggest we discuss our options "before taking matters" into our own hands".

Is it correct to say "before taking matters into their own hands"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The possessive pronoun (their, his, her, my, our) should match the subject of the sentence. For example: "The community considered all avenues "before taking matters" into their own hands".