take care of

USAGE SUMMARY

"take care of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to activities that require attention or responsibility such as taking care of a pet or taking care of someone's needs. For example: "It is important to take care of your elderly relatives; they need extra attention and support."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Take care of himself.

The New Yorker

Take care of them.

The New York Times

They take care of everything.

The New Yorker

I take care of myself.

The New Yorker

Please take care of it".

The New York Times

I'll take care of myself".

The New York Times

Please take care of yourself".

The New Yorker

I take care of him".

The New Yorker

I take care of it".

The New York Times

"So take care of yourself".

The New York Times

We take care of everything.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to "take care of" something or someone, clearly specify the scope of responsibility. For example, "Take care of the plants" implies watering and ensuring they receive enough sunlight.

Common error

Avoid vague instructions when asking someone to "take care of" something. Saying "Take care of the house" without specifying tasks can lead to misunderstandings. Provide a list of duties, such as watering plants, collecting mail, and checking security.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "take care of" functions primarily as a directive or declarative statement, conveying responsibility or action regarding a specific subject. Ludwig examples show its usage for both animate and inanimate objects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

50%

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "take care of" is a versatile and very common expression used to convey responsibility, care, or action toward a specific subject. As Ludwig AI suggests, its grammatical status is correct, and it is widely used across diverse contexts, ranging from News & Media to more informal Wiki articles. While the register is generally neutral, writers should strive for clear instructions when employing the phrase to avoid ambiguity. Ludwig's examples demonstrate that it can be replaced by multiple near-synonyms like "look after" or "attend to", depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

look after

Emphasizes supervision and protection, similar to providing care.

attend to

Focuses on giving attention to something needing handling.

watch over

Highlights vigilance in providing care or security.

manage

Implies responsibility and control over something.

handle

Highlights the act of dealing with a task or situation.

see to

Indicates ensuring something is done or handled properly.

supervise

Suggests overseeing and directing care or operations.

protect

Stresses the act of keeping something safe from harm.

be responsible for

Formally states duty and accountability.

mind

Informal way of expressing responsibility for someone or something.

FAQs

How can I use "take care of" in a sentence?

You can use "take care of" to mean to look after, provide care for, or deal with something. For example, "Please "take care of" the cat while I'm away" or "Can you "take care of" this issue immediately?".

What are some alternatives to "take care of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "look after", "attend to", "manage", or "handle".

What's the difference between "take care of" and "look after"?

"Take care of" and "look after" are very similar and often interchangeable. However, "look after" might imply a more direct form of supervision or protection.

Is it appropriate to use "take care of" in formal writing?

Yes, ""take care of"" is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, you might choose a more specific verb depending on the intended meaning, such as "manage" or "attend to".