take a walking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take a walking" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "take a walk," which is used to suggest going for a leisurely stroll. Example: "After dinner, I like to take a walk to help with digestion."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

In a big city, take a walking tour instead of a tour bus, or walk between sites instead of taking taxis or subways.

Huffington Post

A great tip for anyone visiting Colaba is to take a walking tour.

The Guardian - Travel

We'd like to take a walking tour of the city with a native, who would show us around.

The New York Times

Bobby McFerrin takes Central Park SummerStage, 7 p.m. [Free] Take a walking tour of Harlem at 2 p.m. Reservations required.

The New York Times

(You can take a walking tour through the hotel devised by Edinburgh World Heritage – handy when it's raining).

Independent

Instead of trying to find modern lawbreakers in action, take a walking tour that focuses on historically crime-ridden neighborhoods.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

While there is cautious optimism that change will come, business leaders are at present happy to take a walking-before-running stance.

The Guardian - Business

In the summer of 1790, he took a walking tour through France and the Alps, where he was first exposed to the world-renewing promise of the Revolution.

The New Yorker

Later in the day, Mr. Bush took a walking tour through Guadalupe, a tiny, dusty town whose Hispanic residents swarmed around him, seemingly in disbelief that a presidential candidate had come their way.

The New York Times

He had experienced it last at the age of 17, when he took a walking tour, was caught by a rainstorm at Oxenhope with the Swords family, with whom he stayed a month, regaining the strength to go back to Cambridge.

The New Yorker

I recommend taking a walking tour to see for yourself!

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a guided exploration, use the phrase "take a walking tour" to convey a structured and informative experience.

Common error

Avoid using "take a walking" and instead use "take a walk" or "go for a walk" as they are the grammatically correct and widely accepted forms.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a walking" functions as a verb phrase, where "take" is the verb and "a walking" attempts to act as a noun. However, Ludwig AI indicates this is grammatically incorrect. Examples, however, show the phrase often appearing before the word "tour", resulting in "take a walking tour".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take a walking" is generally considered grammatically incorrect according to Ludwig AI, with the exception of the phrase "take a walking tour". The correct alternative is "take a walk" or "go for a walk". Despite its grammatical issues, the phrase appears frequently, especially in news and media sources, often describing travel or leisure activities. When referring to a structured exploration, using "take a walking tour" is acceptable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go for a walk

Replaces "take a walking" with a grammatically correct and common alternative.

take a stroll

Uses "stroll" instead of "walking" to suggest a leisurely walk.

embark on a walking tour

Adds the concept of a structured tour.

go on a walking expedition

Suggests a more adventurous and exploratory walk.

partake in a walking exploration

Formal alternative, using "partake" and "exploration".

take a hike

Suggests longer or more physically intense walk.

undertake a walking journey

Formal alternative, implying a long walk with a specific goal.

set out on foot

Focuses on the act of beginning a journey by walking.

do some walking

Highlights the physical activity of walking without specifying a route or purpose.

give walking a try

Encourages trying the activity of walking

FAQs

What's the correct way to say I'm going for a walk?

The correct way is to say "I'm going for a walk" or "I'm going to "take a walk"". The phrase "take a walking" is grammatically incorrect.

Is it okay to say "take a walking tour"?

Yes, the phrase "take a walking tour" is acceptable when referring to a guided exploration of a place on foot. However, for a general stroll, use "take a walk".

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

You can use alternatives like "take a walk", "go for a walk", or "take a stroll" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "take a walking" or "take a walk"?

"Take a walk" is the grammatically correct option. "Take a walking" is not standard English, except when used as part of the specific phrase "take a walking tour".