take a shift

USAGE SUMMARY

'take a shift' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a phrase commonly used when referring to exchanging shifts at work or taking turns doing something. Example sentence: I can only work four days a week -- could you take a shift for the fifth day?.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Tucker did not take a shift until nearly four minutes had been played, and the fans noticed.

The New York Times - Sports

It would not take a shift of too many voters to deny him Ohio, Missouri and Florida, and then his total would drop precipitously, to 221 electors.

The New York Times

"It will take a shift in our thinking about what our priorities should be, maybe even some general agreement about holding back on consumer litigation," Dr. Tone said.

The New York Times - Health

"We're not going to be able to take a shift off because they'll take advantage of that, they are a good team".

The Guardian - Sport

"It is going to take a shift in attitudes in Mexico about the criminal justice system and how it works," said David Shirk, director of the Trans-Border Institute, "in order for these reforms to be successful".

The New York Times

Today, failing to recycle is stigmatised, but tomorrow, we may feel ashamed of how many flights we take, a shift that would transform our view of the well-travelled citizen.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"Now it seems like everyone has taken a shift into that same line," said Denny Hamlin, who won a series-high six races, one more than Johnson.

The New York Times - Sports

In past economic revolutions it took a shift in the balance of political power, sometimes achieved only after violent conflict, to ensure that the gains from growth were broadly shared.

The Economist

Paul Manafort was shrewd to distinguish between personality and character, but it only takes a shift in perspective from that of a Republican primary voter to that of a general-election voter to turn one into the other.

The New Yorker

Once a week, Ms. Tola takes a shift in the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital's "pede" unit, as it is called, answering phones, visiting patients and paging nurses when they are needed.

The New York Times

In that Bure led the National Hockey League in goals with 58 in the regular season, Stevens jumped on the ice to try to stop him every time Bure took a shift.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When scheduling staff, clearly communicate shift responsibilities to avoid confusion. For example: "Each team member will take a shift managing social media engagement."

Common error

Avoid using "take a shift" when describing long-term career changes; it is most appropriate for temporary or rotational duties. Use phrases like "make a career change" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a shift" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of assuming responsibility for a scheduled period of work or duty. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, demonstrating its common integration into various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Huffington Post

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedia Britannica

2%

The Guardian

4%

TechCrunch

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "take a shift" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe assuming responsibility for a designated period of work or duty. Ludwig AI supports its correct usage in various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media and Wiki sources, its register is generally neutral, fitting both professional and informal conversations about scheduling and task delegation. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the context involves a defined timeframe and a rotating responsibility, distinguishing it from broader career changes or indefinite commitments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cover a shift

Focuses on the action of replacing someone for a work period.

pick up a shift

Implies voluntarily taking on an extra or available shift.

work a shift

Emphasizes the act of performing duties during a scheduled work period.

assume a shift

Highlights the act of taking on responsibility for a specific work period.

do a stint

Suggests a period of time dedicated to a particular task or activity, not necessarily work-related.

fill in for someone

Indicates temporarily replacing someone who is absent.

substitute for

Highlights the act of replacing someone in a particular role.

shoulder a turn

Suggests accepting responsibility for a task or duty in rotation.

stand watch

Implies guarding or overseeing something during a specific period.

experience a transition

Focuses on undergoing a change or alteration, broadly applicable.

FAQs

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

You can use "take a shift" to describe covering a work period, like: "Can you "cover a shift" next week?" or "I'll "work a shift" at the front desk."

What's a good alternative to "take a shift"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "cover a shift", "work a shift", or "fill in for someone".

Is it correct to say "took a shift" or should I use another tense?

The tense depends on the context. "Took a shift" refers to a past action, "take a shift" refers to a future or habitual action, and "taking a shift" describes an ongoing action.

Can "take a shift" apply to non-work contexts?

While primarily used in work settings, "take a shift" can also apply to other situations where responsibilities are rotated, like "shouldering a turn" watching children or pets.