take a lecture

USAGE SUMMARY

"take a lecture" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to attending a lecture, such as a college lecture, or when referring to a person giving a lecture on a particular topic. For example, "I decided to take a lecture on the impact of technology on society."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"None of us are going to take a lecture on morality from this president," he said.

The New York Times

Mr Cameron hit back at the Labour leader, saying: "I will take a lecture from almost anyone in the country about the sale of Royal Mail, but not from the two Muppets who advised the last chancellor on selling the gold.

BBC

"I'll take a lecture on curing the world of HIV when you use a condom 100percentt of the time and you're on PrEP," he told me.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Taking a lecture on hypocrisy from Karl Rove is like turning to Donald Trump for advice on hairstyle.

The Washington Post

But it took a lecture from his coach to get there.

The New York Times - Sports

We're not taking a lecture and putting it on screen.

The New York Times - Tech

She hopes that the social pressures associated with taking a lecture with friends will push students to work hard without provoking anxiety about grades.

The New York Times

All of our students were taking a lecture course in cell biology that emphasized many fundamental concepts covered in Biol18b concurrently with our laboratory course so we chose to focus our assessment only minimally on content understanding and retention because we felt it would be extremely difficult to separate learning gains in the laboratory from learning gains in the lecture.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Taking a lecturing position, assuming one was available in my field, seems a possible way forward, but also directs me away from research.

Science Magazine

We also compared overall course ratings and examination scores for the NextGenU/Flipped classroom students against course ratings and examination scores for student who took a lecture-based EOHC in previous years.

BMC Medical Education

Some students admit that they see the course as an opportunity to take a relaxed lecture with few requirements.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take a lecture" when you want to emphasize the action of attending or experiencing a lecture. For instance, "I decided to "take a lecture" on astrophysics to expand my knowledge."

Common error

Avoid using "take a lecture" in highly formal contexts where more precise language like "attend a lecture" or "participate in a lecture" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "take a lecture" is a verb phrase, where "take" acts as the main verb and "a lecture" is the direct object. It describes the action of attending or participating in a lecture, as Ludwig AI confirms through its analysis of examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take a lecture" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that means to attend a lecture. While it's acceptable in most contexts, more formal alternatives may be preferred in certain settings. As highlighted by Ludwig, its neutral formality makes it versatile for both casual and more structured environments. Keep in mind the writing guidance to avoid common errors and employ best practices for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attend a lecture

Replaces "take" with "attend", focusing on the act of being present at a lecture.

go to a lecture

A simpler and more direct way to express attending a lecture.

sit in on a lecture

Emphasizes informally attending a lecture, often without formal enrollment.

listen to a lecture

Focuses on the act of listening and receiving information during a lecture.

participate in a lecture

Highlights active involvement rather than passive attendance.

be present at a lecture

A more formal way of saying "attend a lecture".

receive a lecture

Highlights the reception of information from the lecture content itself.

catch a lecture

Implies a more casual or spontaneous decision to attend a lecture.

audit a lecture

Specifically refers to attending a lecture without receiving credit.

enroll in a lecture

Suggests formally registering for a lecture as part of a course.

FAQs

What does "take a lecture" mean?

"Take a lecture" means to attend a lecture, typically for educational purposes. It implies being present and actively listening to the speaker.

What can I say instead of "take a lecture"?

You can use alternatives like "attend a lecture", "sit in on a lecture", or "go to a lecture", depending on the context.

Is "take a lecture" formal or informal?

"Take a lecture" is generally considered neutral in formality. While acceptable in most contexts, more formal alternatives like "attend a lecture" may be preferred in academic or professional settings.

How can I use "take a lecture" in a sentence?

You can use "take a lecture" in sentences such as, "I plan to "take a lecture" on quantum physics next semester" or "She decided to "take a lecture" to learn more about the topic."