take a seminar

USAGE SUMMARY

"take a seminar" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a course or lecture that a participant attends to learn about a specific subject. For example: "I'm thinking about taking a seminar on public speaking to improve my communication skills."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Freshmen must take a seminar on the dangers of drinking.

The New York Times

They also take a seminar course in which they explore some of the classic texts of their region.

Columbia University

I said to the graduate students that I thought it must be amazing to take a seminar with Ginsberg, to be around someone who had been around so much.

The New Yorker

When the United States entered the first World War, Marshall, before any considerable number of American troops had embarked, was sent to France to take a seminar course in war with the French Army.

The New Yorker

They also take a seminar in undergraduate research, 6.UAR, in which students learn how to produce real-world deliverables like writing a proposal, conducting background research, presenting a poster, and writing a journal paper.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

If students do not take a seminar in their first two semesters, they must do so during summer session I or II.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"It was like taking a seminar," Zhang told me.

The New Yorker

Many years ago, in graduate school, I took a seminar with a famous linguist.

The New Yorker

Reporting that article was like taking a seminar on economic growth.

The New York Times

I took a seminar while I was at Newsday in which I learned the basics.

The New York Times

Instead, he took a seminar at the law school in his sophomore year.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take a seminar" when you want to emphasize the act of attending a session for learning or training. It's suitable for both academic and professional contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "take a seminar" when referring to online sessions. Use "attend a webinar" instead to accurately reflect the online format.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a seminar" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of participating in a seminar. It typically involves attendance and engagement in a structured learning environment. As Ludwig shows, it is often used in academic and professional settings.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Academia

31%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take a seminar" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It signifies attending a seminar for learning purposes and is appropriate for academic, professional, and news contexts. While alternatives like "attend a seminar" or "participate in a seminar" exist, "take a seminar" remains a straightforward and widely understood way to express this action. Ensure the context aligns with a formal learning environment, differentiating it from online webinars for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attend a seminar

Focuses on the action of being present at the seminar.

participate in a seminar

Emphasizes involvement and engagement within the seminar.

enroll in a seminar

Highlights the act of formally registering for the seminar.

join a seminar

Suggests becoming a member of the seminar group.

sit in on a seminar

Implies attending the seminar, possibly without formal enrollment.

go to a seminar

A more informal way of saying "attend a seminar".

undertake a seminar

Suggests a more serious and committed approach to attending the seminar.

complete a seminar

Focuses on the act of finishing or successfully passing the seminar.

pursue a seminar

Implies following a specific seminar to gain knowledge.

register for a seminar

Highlights the formal process of signing up for the seminar.

FAQs

What does "take a seminar" mean?

To "take a seminar" means to attend and participate in a course or session focused on a specific topic, typically involving discussion and in-depth study.

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

You can use alternatives like "attend a seminar", "participate in a seminar", or "enroll in a seminar" depending on the context.

How do I use "take a seminar" in a sentence?

You can use "take a seminar" in a sentence like: "I plan to take a seminar on data science next semester" or "All employees are required to take a seminar on workplace safety".

Is it correct to say "taking a seminar"?

Yes, "taking a seminar" is the present participle form and is perfectly correct. For example: "She is currently taking a seminar on art history".