take a stand for

USAGE SUMMARY

"take a stand for" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to support or defend a particular position or belief. Example: "It's time for us to take a stand for equal rights for all individuals, regardless of their race or gender."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's time to take a stand for our NHS.

The Guardian

"I had to come here and take a stand for the children".

The New York Times - Sports

Whenever you take a stand for truth and justice, you are liable to scorn.

Stanford University

Across the parking lot, though, a few much younger men take a stand for their generation.

The Washington Post

"Or we can choose to take a stand for our conservative values".

The New York Times

Today is the perfect day, this is the perfect chance, to take a stand for equality.

The Guardian

Can't someone take a stand for Him?" and "This country wasn't founded on Muslim beliefs or evolution.

The New Yorker

As we witnessed, many people are willing to take a stand for freedom and dignity at considerable risk.

MIT Technology Review

"We as Christians have got to take a stand for God, and reclaim our town for God," he said.

The New York Times

The crowd shouted, "Hey, Kroger, take a stand" for several minutes before being dispersed by police officers.

The New York Times

Amid such dire portents, who will dare to take a stand for aristocracy?

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take a stand for" when you want to emphasize a deliberate and public act of supporting or defending a cause or principle.

Common error

Avoid using "take a stand for" in situations that do not involve a clear element of defending against opposition or advocating for a specific cause. Simpler terms like "support" or "promote" may be more appropriate in neutral contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a stand for" functions as a verbal phrase indicating active support or defense of a particular cause, belief, or person. It demonstrates a proactive choice to publicly align oneself with something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

17%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take a stand for" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express active support or defense of a cause or belief. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Academia. While versatile, it's best used when there's a clear element of advocacy or resistance. Alternative phrases like ""support"", ""defend"", or ""advocate for"" can be used depending on the context and nuances you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stand up for

Similar meaning, but with a slight emphasis on resisting opposition.

advocate for

Focuses on publicly supporting or recommending a particular cause or policy.

defend

Emphasizes protecting something from attack or criticism.

support

Highlights providing assistance or approval to a cause or person.

champion

Implies enthusiastically promoting and defending a cause or person.

fight for

Suggests actively working towards achieving or protecting something.

stick up for

More informal, implying defending someone verbally.

promote

Focuses on actively encouraging the growth or popularity of something.

endorse

Suggests publicly declaring one's support.

espouse

Implies adopting or supporting a cause or belief.

FAQs

How can I use "take a stand for" in a sentence?

You can use "take a stand for" to show support or defend a particular belief or cause. For example, "It's important to "take a stand for" human rights" or "The community decided to "take a stand for" environmental protection".

What can I say instead of "take a stand for"?

Alternatives include "advocate for", "support", or "defend", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "stand up for" and "take a stand for"?

While both phrases are similar, "stand up for" often implies a more immediate or reactive defense, whereas ""take a stand for"" can suggest a more proactive and deliberate commitment to a cause.

Is "take a stand for" formal or informal?

The phrase ""take a stand for"" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it's important to consider the specific audience and purpose of your communication. In highly formal settings, ""advocate for"" or ""support"" might be preferred.