it always takes

USAGE SUMMARY

"it always takes" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when emphasizing the amount of time or effort that something requires. For example: "It always takes years of hard work and dedication to become successful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She told me, only partly kidding, that "it always takes six women to make one tagine".

The New York Times - Food

Harley-Davidson said it always takes its competition seriously, including the Indian.

Los Angeles Times

It always takes years.

The Guardian - Music

It always takes time to build".

The New York Times

It always takes me by surprise.

The New Yorker

IT ALWAYS takes time to recover from a shock.

The Economist

I've worked with different captains and it always takes time.

The Guardian - Sport

Of course, it always takes time to mesh two candidates.

The New York Times

It always takes him a minute to retrieve that name".

The New Yorker

It always takes him a moment or two to come back.

The New York Times

It always takes my iPhone at least three attempts to recognise my fingerprint.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it always takes", ensure the subject performing the action is clear. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "it always takes" when the statement is not universally true. Qualify the statement with adverbs like "usually" or "often" to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it always takes" functions as an idiomatic expression to emphasize that a particular action, process, or result invariably requires a certain element, most commonly time or effort. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is common in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it always takes" is a very common and grammatically correct expression used to emphasize the consistent necessity of something, such as time or effort, to achieve a particular outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its commonality and appropriateness across a range of contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. While versatile, it's essential to ensure the subject is clear and to avoid overgeneralization. Alternatives like "it invariably requires" can be used in more formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it invariably requires

Replaces "takes" with "requires" and "always" with "invariably", indicating a consistent need for something.

it invariably necessitates

Replaces "takes" with "necessitates" and "always" with "invariably", indicating a consistent requirement.

it consistently demands

Substitutes "takes" with "demands" and "always" with "consistently", highlighting the constant necessity.

it habitually necessitates

Replaces "takes" with "necessitates" and "always" with "habitually", suggesting a recurring requirement.

it typically calls for

Uses "calls for" instead of "takes" and "typically" instead of "always", indicating a usual need or condition.

it regularly entails

Replaces "takes" with "entails" and "always" with "regularly", showing what is normally involved or required.

it unfailingly involves

Substitutes "takes" with "involves" and "always" with "unfailingly", stressing the constant inclusion of something.

it generally necessitates

Uses "generally" instead of "always" and "necessitates" instead of "takes", suggesting a common but not absolute requirement.

it usually implies

Replaces "takes" with "implies" and "always" with "usually", indicating a common association or consequence.

it predictably consumes

Substitutes "takes" with "consumes" and "always" with "predictably", highlighting the expected depletion of resources.

FAQs

How can I use "it always takes" in a sentence?

You can use "it always takes" to emphasize the necessity of time, effort, or resources for a particular task. For example, "it always takes time to build trust".

What's a more formal way to say "it always takes"?

For a more formal tone, you might consider using alternatives such as "it invariably requires" or "it consistently demands".

Is "it always take" grammatically correct instead of "it always takes"?

No, "it always take" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "it always takes" because "it" is a singular pronoun and requires the third-person singular verb form.

What is the difference between "it always takes" and "it usually takes"?

"It always takes" implies that something is invariably necessary, whereas "it usually takes" suggests that it's generally the case but not in every instance.