it took generations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it took generations" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a process or change that required a long period of time, often involving multiple generations of people. Example: "The cultural shift towards environmental awareness took generations, but now we see the positive impact on our planet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

In America, it took generations for blacks, women, and gays and lesbians to win the rights of citizenship — rights that, in many instances, remain incomplete.

The New Yorker

It took generations; it passed through periods of unspeakable horror; sometimes people forgot, sometimes they forgave, and they did both these things imperfectly.

The New Yorker

It took generations for Mexican farmers to domesticate this grass into maize, which then became a staple of the local diet.

The New York Times

It took generations for the Jews, Irish, Germans, Italians, Chinese and other immigrants to find acceptance in America, facing down and overcoming unwarranted bigotry.

The New York Times

"In the U.S., it took generations to build up a foreign-born population of that size," said Demetrios Papademetriou, head of the Migration Policy Institute, a research group in Washington.

The New York Times

But the fact that public vaccination programs eventually became ubiquitous (even if it took generations) might tell us something about the ultimate direction of our history — the direction in which we are still slowly, fitfully creeping.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It takes generations.

The New York Times

"It takes generations for that to be felt".

The Guardian - Sport

It has a knock-on effect and it takes generations before you start the healing.

The Guardian

"We very much make this wine, and it takes generations of a family to make this wine".

The New York Times - Travel

It takes generations, even centuries, before the wounds heal sufficiently for rival communities to share a historical narrative.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it took generations" to emphasize the gradual nature of a change or development. This phrasing highlights that progress was not immediate but built upon the efforts and experiences of multiple generations.

Common error

Avoid using "it took generations" when referring to events that occurred within a single lifetime or a short period. The phrase specifically implies a process that unfolded across numerous generations, not just a long time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it took generations" functions as a statement indicating the extended duration required for a process or change to occur. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and readily usable in written English. The examples provided by Ludwig showcase its use in various contexts, emphasizing the time scale involving multiple generations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it took generations" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express that a process or change required a very long period, often spanning multiple lifetimes. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English writing. While relatively uncommon, the phrase is frequently found in news and media sources. It serves to emphasize the prolonged nature of a development and the cumulative efforts of successive generations. When writing, it's important to use this phrase accurately, ensuring it aligns with contexts genuinely involving multi-generational timeframes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it spanned generations

Replaces "took" with "spanned", emphasizing the duration across multiple generations.

it required many generations

Substitutes "took" with "required", highlighting necessity of multiple generations for achievement.

it unfolded over generations

Uses "unfolded" to illustrate gradual development across generations.

it progressed through generations

Emphasizes the progression or advancement that occurred across generations.

it evolved over generations

Focuses on the evolutionary aspect of the change across generations.

it developed over generations

Highlights the development process spanning generations.

it was a multigenerational process

Frames it as a process that inherently involves multiple generations.

generations were needed

Focuses on the necessity of multiple generations.

it took a long time

Simplifies to a general statement about time, losing the generational aspect.

it was a lengthy process

Similar to "it took a long time" but slightly more formal.

FAQs

How can I use "it took generations" in a sentence?

Use "it took generations" to indicate that something required a very long time to achieve, often spanning multiple lifetimes. For example, "It took generations for societal attitudes towards equality to evolve".

What's a more formal way to say "it took generations"?

A more formal alternative is "it required many generations", which emphasizes the necessity of multiple generations for a certain outcome.

Is it correct to say "it will take generations"?

Yes, it is correct. Using "it will take generations" suggests that achieving something in the future will require a significant amount of time, likely involving the efforts of successive generations. This contrasts with stating a past event as in "it took generations".

What is the difference between "it took generations" and "it took a long time"?

"It took generations" specifically implies a process that spanned multiple lifetimes and familial lines, while "it took a long time" is a more general statement about duration without emphasizing familial or generational impact.