it takes around

USAGE SUMMARY

"it takes around" is a correct grammatical structure in English.
It is a useful way to describe the amount of time that something takes, with the implication that the amount might not be precise or exact. For example, you could say, "It takes around 15 minutes to drive to the city centre."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It takes around seven years to build a power station.

The Economist

It takes around a month to train a de-miner.

The Guardian

It takes around 200,000 joules of energy to make a sheet of paper.

The Economist

It takes around 8% commission on sales, on top of an up-front fee.

The Economist

If the jam occurs at 7am, it takes around three hours to clear.

The Economist

(It takes around four months of training before a rookie is deemed "show ready").

The New York Times - Magazine

For example: it takes around 3,000 litres of water to produce a burger.

The Guardian

It takes around 21 days something for nuts to process to eatable state.

The Guardian

It takes around 9,000 litres of water to produce a chicken.

The Guardian

It takes around four hours for the drugs to get into the brain in significant amounts.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It takes around $40,000 to rent Carnegie Hall, and advertising costs are about $25,000.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it takes around," ensure the context clearly indicates what is being measured (e.g., time, resources, distance). For example, "It takes around 3 hours to travel from Palangka Raya to Kuala Kapuas."

Common error

Avoid using "it takes around" without specifying the units. Saying "It takes around 20" is vague. Instead, specify "It takes around 20 minutes" or "It takes around 20 liters."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it takes around" functions as a quantifier, specifically indicating an approximate duration, amount, or quantity. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness. Examples show it measuring time ("it takes around three hours"), resources ("it takes around 3,000 litres of water"), and money ("it takes around $40,000").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it takes around" serves as a versatile tool for expressing approximations, as validated by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news and media, science, and wiki sources, this phrase effectively conveys estimations of time, resources, or effort. While grammatically sound, it's important to specify units of measurement to maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity. Remember, while "it takes around" is perfectly acceptable, variations like "it requires approximately" or "it needs about" can add subtle nuances to your writing. The high frequency and varied application of this phrase underscore its relevance in contemporary English communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it requires approximately

Replaces "takes" with "requires" and "around" with "approximately", adding a slightly more formal tone.

it needs about

Uses "needs" instead of "takes" and "about" for "around", creating a simpler phrasing.

the duration is roughly

Emphasizes duration explicitly and uses "roughly" to indicate approximation.

it typically involves

Changes the focus to the process rather than the duration, with "typically involves" indicating a common duration.

it generally consumes

Replaces "takes" with "consumes", appropriate when discussing resources like time or energy, and "generally" for "around".

the process spans approximately

Focuses on the process and its approximate length.

it usually demands

Uses "demands" to highlight a requirement and "usually" as an approximation.

expect it to last about

Phrases the expectation of duration using "expect" and "about" for estimation.

it's in the neighborhood of

Replaces the whole expression with an idiomatic one, "it's in the neighborhood of", still keeping an informal tone.

it hovers near

Uses a more figurative expression suggesting the time or quantity is not fixed but close to a value.

FAQs

What does "it takes around" mean?

The phrase "it takes around" means that something requires an estimated or approximate amount of time, effort, or resources. It implies that the amount is not precise but is close to the stated value.

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

You can use "it takes around" to estimate the time, resources, or effort needed for something. For example, "It takes around 30 minutes to drive to the airport" or "It takes around 3000 litres of water to produce a burger".

Which is correct, "it takes around" or "it takes about"?

Both "it takes around" and "it takes about" are correct and commonly used to indicate an approximation. The choice between them often depends on personal preference or regional dialect.

What are some alternatives to "it takes around"?

Some alternatives to "it takes around" include phrases like "it requires approximately", "it needs about", or "it typically involves", depending on the context.