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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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it takes existing

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it takes existing" is not correct in English as it is incomplete and lacks clarity.
It could be used in a context where you are discussing the necessity of something that already exists, but it needs additional information to make sense. Example: "In order to improve the system, it takes existing resources and knowledge to implement effective changes."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The key to this new technology is quantum physics, which allows subatomic particles to exist in multiple states simultaneously and therefore perform several tasks in the same time it takes existing computers to make a single calculation.

Science & Research

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"So I took existing products and made them better, more useful".

News & Media

Forbes

Prison takes existing criminals off the streets.

News & Media

The Economist

Comparative effectiveness research takes existing treatments and compares them to determine which are the most effective.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Apple has shown in the past - notably with the iPhone and iPad - that it can take existing technologies and make them far more attractive and easy to use.

News & Media

BBC

According to Iyengar, it is difficult to take existing information from the digital music industry and conduct meaningful analysis on the relationship between price and demand because most companies rarely change their prices.

News & Media

Forbes

It argues rivals are taking existing structures — such as the job board model or the staffing agency model — and optimizing them for mobile, whereas inploi claims it's aiming for a more radical rethinking of how recruitment is done in this sector.

News & Media

TechCrunch

"We are going to take existing infrastructure and repair it".

News & Media

The New York Times

Nowadays we just take existing technology and revamp it".

News & Media

The New York Times

On mobile, that means taking existing Conductor data and making it easy to search and understand.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Why not take existing archetypes and just refine them?

Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing how a new system or product builds upon something that already exists, clarify the relationship between the new and the existing elements to enhance clarity. Avoid incomplete expressions such as "it takes existing".

Common error

Avoid using "it takes existing" without specifying what action 'it' performs regarding the existing element. Always provide context to clarify the nature of the interaction or transformation.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it takes existing" functions as an incomplete clause that suggests a relationship between an unspecified subject ("it") and something that already exists. However, without a clarifying verb or object, the phrase lacks a clear grammatical function. As highlighted by Ludwig, the phrase is considered incorrect due to its incompleteness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it takes existing" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to its incomplete structure. As Ludwig AI indicates, it requires additional information to clarify the action being performed on the existing element. While the individual words are neutral, the phrase's ambiguity reduces its effectiveness in communication. Alternatives like "it utilizes existing" or "it leverages existing" offer more precise and grammatically sound ways to express similar ideas. To avoid confusion, it's best to clarify the intended relationship between the subject and the existing component by adding a verb and object to complete the sentence.

FAQs

How can I properly use the phrase "it takes existing" in a sentence?

The phrase "it takes existing" is grammatically incomplete. You should clarify what "it" does with the existing element, such as "it takes advantage of existing resources" or "it modifies existing code".

What phrases can I use instead of "it takes existing" to describe leveraging current resources?

Alternatives include "it utilizes existing", "it leverages existing", or "it builds upon existing", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "it takes existing" without adding a verb or object?

No, "it takes existing" is not grammatically correct on its own. It requires a verb or object to complete the thought, such as "it takes existing data and analyzes it".

What's the difference between "it takes existing technology" and "it uses existing technology"?

"It uses existing technology" is a general statement about employing current technology. "It takes existing technology" is incomplete and requires more context to explain how the technology is being handled or transformed.

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Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: