bring away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bring away" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct phrase is "take away." Example: "Please take away the dishes when you're finished eating."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"Everyone who attends can bring away some realization about different cultures," he said.

The New York Times

"If I could bring away my child, I would try to go home," she said.

The New York Times

Some of the secrets are difficult to bring away, and some, jealously guarded by relatives, are even impossible.

The New Yorker

The optimization results show that the inflowing air needs to flow to the area of high SVOCs concentration preferentially in order to bring away more SVOCs, and finally decrease the average concentration.

Building and Environment

She returned only to Maryland — specifically to plantations on the Eastern Shore — to bring away family members and friends whom she loved and trusted.

The Washington Post

That is not a conclusion a visitor might have expected to bring away from the annual Vortex conference that ended on Friday here on the Pacific Coast.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

From it one brings away the fear that our children will kill us all".

The Guardian - Film

But experimental results indicate that methanol crossover through proton exchange membrane (PEM), methanol transportation in anode, removal of CO2 bubbles and heat loss brought away by methanol solution are four crucial causes influencing dynamic behavior of the cell.

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

The search Wednesday came two days after Turkish forensic experts combed through the consulate, bringing away clues that officials said included possible bloodstains.

The Washington Post

We ascended the river some twenty-five (25) miles, destroyed a pontoon bridge, together with a large amount of cotton, rice, and other property, and brought away seven hundred and twenty-seven slaves, and some fine horses.

The New York Times

Even before the Belgian capitulation, the British government had decided to evacuate the BEF by sea from Dunkirk, and the admiralty had been collecting every kind of small craft to help in bringing away the troops.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "bring away" in formal writing. Instead, use "take away" or a more specific verb depending on the context.

Common error

Remember that "bring" implies movement towards the speaker, while "take" implies movement away from the speaker. Using "bring away" often confuses this directionality.

Linguistic Context

Bring away functions as a phrasal verb, though its usage is often grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI identifies it as generally incorrect. Its intended function is to describe the act of removing or taking something from a particular location.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bring away" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English, with the more appropriate alternative being "take away". Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While "bring away" appears in various sources, including news articles and online content, its usage is inconsistent and potentially confusing. It seems to function as a phrasal verb intended to describe the removal or transportation of something, but the directional implications of "bring" and "away" create ambiguity. Therefore, it's best to use "take away" or a more specific verb like "remove", "extract", or "retrieve" depending on the context to ensure clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take away

This is the standard and most common replacement for "bring away", indicating removal or deduction.

carry away

Implies transporting something, often with enthusiasm or excitement.

remove

A formal term for taking something away, often used in technical contexts.

extract

Suggests carefully taking something out from a source.

obtain

Focuses on the act of getting or acquiring something.

retrieve

Indicates getting something back from a specific location.

collect

Implies gathering multiple items to take away.

ferry

Suggests transporting something or someone.

escort

Indicates accompanying someone while taking them away.

abduct

Implies taking someone away forcefully or secretly.

FAQs

Is "bring away" grammatically correct?

No, "bring away" is generally considered incorrect in standard English. The correct phrase is "take away".

What does "bring away" mean, and why is it often misused?

The phrase is meant to convey taking something from one place to another, but it incorrectly combines the directional senses of "bring" (towards) and "away" (from). It's better to use "take away" to show movement from a location.

How can I use "take away" instead of "bring away" in a sentence?

Instead of saying "Can you bring away these dishes?" say "Can you "take away" these dishes?". This correctly indicates moving the dishes from the current location.

What are some alternatives to "bring away"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "carry away", "remove", or "extract". "Take away" is generally the most direct and suitable replacement.