effort took

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "effort took" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey that a certain amount of effort was required for a task, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "The project was challenging, and the effort took longer than expected."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The effort took 3,500 hours.

The New York Times

That effort took 9 hours, 10 minutes.

The New York Times - Health

From there, the effort took a modern turn.

The New Yorker

Soon thereafter, though, the war effort took precedence.

The New York Times - Magazine

The Christie-focused lobbying effort took on new life on Friday.

The New York Times

The effort took many months and was, like the couture itself, labor intensive.

The New Yorker

(The effort took months, as the faster G5's weren't out yet).

The New York Times

Still, the fund-raising effort took analysts and investors by surprise.

The New York Times

The effort took a year, during which time the choir raised money for the production.

The New York Times

The effort took money, which the Lerners had, as their estimated $3.3 billion fortune makes them the game's wealthiest owners.

The New York Times

There is the question of how much that throatlatch-to-throatlatch effort took out of Buddha and Medaglia d'Oro.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Rephrase sentences using "effort" as a subject with active verbs (e.g., "the effort consumed time" instead of "the effort took time").

Common error

Avoid using "effort took" as it's not a natural way to express that effort was expended. Opt for more direct phrasing such as "the effort required", or rephrase the sentence to clarify the relationship between the effort and its consequence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "effort took" functions as part of a clause, often describing the impact or consequence of an effort. However, according to Ludwig AI, it's considered grammatically awkward and less direct than alternative phrasings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

13%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "effort took" appears frequently in various sources, especially in News & Media, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. It's used to describe what an effort consumed, such as time or resources. For improved clarity and grammatical correctness, consider alternatives like ""effort required"", "effort consumed", or rephrasing the sentence altogether. Opting for these alternatives enhances precision and avoids awkward phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

effort required

Emphasizes the necessity of the effort.

effort consumed

Highlights what the effort used up.

effort demanded

Stresses the obligatory nature of the effort.

effort entailed

Focuses on what the effort involved.

effort necessitated

Indicates the effort was essential.

the task required

Shifts focus from effort to task.

the work involved

Replaces "effort" with "work".

it took effort

Rearranges the sentence to emphasize the need for effort.

the process needed

Highlights the necessity of the procedure.

the endeavor involved

Formal alternative replacing common terms.

FAQs

What does "effort took" mean?

The phrase "effort took" generally implies that a particular task or activity required a certain amount of effort, resources, or time. However, it's often phrased more clearly using alternatives.

How can I use "effort took" in a sentence correctly?

While "effort took" is commonly used, it is considered grammatically awkward. It's better to rephrase. Instead of "the cleanup effort took one month", consider "the cleanup "effort required" one month" or "the cleanup effort lasted one month".

What are some alternatives to "effort took"?

Alternatives include ""effort required"", "effort consumed", or "effort demanded". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "effort took" or "effort required"?

"Effort required" is generally considered more grammatically correct and clearer than "effort took". It directly states that the effort was necessary for something.