it took us some time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it took us some time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a certain task or process required a significant amount of time to complete. Example: "It took us some time to finalize the project, but we are pleased with the results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

It took us some time.

The Guardian

In this case, it took us some time to get where we want to get.

The Guardian - Sport

It took us some time to work out just how heavy the burden of proof was.

The New York Times - Magazine

It took us some time to get Didier back on his feet but now everything is perfectly fine.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr Ritchie said: "It took us some time to realise we didn't know how much money was coming in.

The Guardian

It took us some time to locate the garage & find out that Warshaw is Jules Warshaw, who lives, with his wife, at 301 E. 21st Street.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

It really took us some time to build the coils because the resistance of #28 wire is about 0.212 ohm/meter so we need 100 meters of wire for EACH coil!

Cornell University

Once that is in hand, "it will take us some time to get through" the process of matching that official roster with the names on the cards.

Science Magazine

After years of knowing and loving his "Doggy Dogg World", it might take us some time to get used to Snoop's new persona Snoop Lion.

Vice

"It'll take us some time to train people that the year number doesn't mean it's the best version".

TechCrunch

"I think it's taken us some time to come to terms with the fact that children suffer from mental health problems," he says.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for an international audience, "it took us some time" can be preferable to more informal alternatives, as its meaning is generally easily understood across different cultural contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "it took us some time" when you want to emphasize efficiency or speed. This phrase inherently suggests a process required longer than expected, so choose alternative phrasing if speed is what you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it took us some time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating the duration required for an action. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it took us some time" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate the duration needed to complete a task. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English writing. It is generally neutral in register, fitting various contexts from news reports to academic papers. While seemingly simple, it subtly implies that the process required a more considerable duration or effort than initially expected. For alternatives, consider "we required a while" or "we needed a period" depending on the nuance you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we required a while

Replaces "it took" with "we required" and "some time" with "a while", creating a slightly more formal tone.

we needed a period

Substitutes "took" with "needed" and "some time" with "a period", emphasizing the necessity of the time spent.

we spent a duration

Changes the verb to "spent" and replaces "some time" with "a duration", altering the sentence structure while retaining the meaning.

we invested a while

Uses "invested" instead of "took", suggesting the time was used purposefully, and "a while" in place of "some time".

a bit elapsed for us

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the elapsing of time, changing the structure significantly.

we were delayed for a bit

Indicates the delay instead of the time consumed

we were hold up for a while

Indicates being held up instead of the time consumed

we dallied before

Replaces the whole phrase with a dallied

we lingered

Replaces the whole phrase with a lingered

we tarried

Replaces the whole phrase with a tarried

FAQs

How can I use "it took us some time" in a sentence?

You can use "it took us some time" to describe the duration required to complete a task, like: "It took us some time to locate the garage" or "It took us some time to figure this out".

What are some alternatives to "it took us some time"?

Alternatives include "we required a while", "we needed a period", or "we invested a while", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "it took us a while" or "it took us some time"?

"It took us some time" is generally perceived as slightly more formal than "it took us a while", but both are acceptable in most contexts. The choice depends on the desired tone.

What does "it took some doing" mean and how is it different from "it took us some time"?

"It took some doing" implies that something was difficult to achieve, while "it took us some time" simply means that something required a certain duration. The former focuses on the effort, the latter on the time.