smiles took

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smiles took" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a situation where smiles were present or had an effect, but it lacks clarity and proper context. Example: "As the joyful news spread, smiles took over the faces of everyone in the room."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The cameras clicked on and the two big, familiar smiles took over.

The New York Times - Sports

Adam Johnson's Fortune Smiles took home the 2015 National Book Award for fiction at the ceremony, held at Cipriani in Manhattan on Wednesday night.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Doyle smiles, taking the praise in her stride.

The Guardian

After shuffling to the table for his news conference, D'Antoni was all smiles, taking questions for 40 minutes.

The New York Times - Sports

He smiles, takes my hand, drops a few salt baubles into my palm and curls my fingers around them.

Independent

It seems it's happening all over again," he smiles, taking the tease in good part.

The Guardian

Edward smiles, takes the proffered piece of paper, scribbles his name and then hands it back.

The New York Times - Magazine

As Morabito smiles, taking in the view of his new domain: "We will make a big noise when it opens.

The Guardian - Arts

The stall-keeper smiles, takes the knife she has been decapitating prawns with, and scoops out a bright yellow section.

The Guardian - Travel

We reached the top wearing big smiles, taking time to celebrate over bananas and PB&Js.

Huffington Post

A weary smile took the place of his aggressive posture.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the ungrammatical phrase "smiles took", opt for alternatives like "smiles appeared" or "smiles spread" to express the emergence of smiles more effectively.

Common error

Avoid using "took" with "smiles" as it does not form a grammatically correct phrase. "Took" implies taking something tangible, which doesn't apply to expressions like smiles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smiles took" functions as a verb phrase, but it's grammatically unconventional. It attempts to describe an action involving smiles, yet it doesn't conform to standard English usage. Ludwig AI indicates that it is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "smiles took" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in writing or speech. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's better to use alternatives like "smiles appeared" or "smiles spread" to convey the intended meaning of smiles emerging or becoming visible. While there are a few examples of the phrase in use, primarily in news and scientific contexts, its rarity and grammatical issues make it an unadvisable choice. Correct phrasing ensures clarity and avoids confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smiles appeared

Replaces "took" with "appeared" to indicate the emergence of smiles.

smiles emerged

Similar to "smiles appeared", indicating the beginning of smiles.

smiles spread

Uses "spread" instead of "took" to illustrate the diffusion of smiles.

smiles came into view

States simply that smiles became visible.

faces lit up with smiles

Offers a more descriptive expression of smiling faces.

smiles broke out

Implies a sudden and spontaneous expression of smiles.

smiles blossomed

Presents a more vivid and figurative description of smiles.

smiles illuminated their faces

Indicates that smiles brightened up their faces.

smiles dawned

A slightly poetic way to express the appearance of smiles.

smiles graced their faces

Suggests that smiles added elegance to their faces.

FAQs

What are some correct alternatives to "smiles took"?

Instead of "smiles took", consider using alternatives like "smiles appeared", "smiles spread", or "faces lit up with smiles" to express the emergence of smiles more clearly.

Is "smiles took" grammatically correct?

No, "smiles took" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The verb "took" is typically used with tangible objects or actions, not with abstract concepts like smiles.

How can I use "smile" in a sentence correctly?

You can use "smile" correctly by saying "a smile appeared", "she smiled", or "her face broke into a smile". These constructions use verbs that appropriately describe the action or appearance of a smile.

What does it mean when someone says, "a smile "took over" their face"?

While not the same as "smiles took", the phrase "a smile "took over" their face" implies that a smile suddenly and completely dominated their facial expression, indicating strong happiness or amusement. The correct way to say it is: smiles appeared on their faces, or smiles spread across their faces.