take effect

USAGE SUMMARY

"take effect" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about something that has a particular effect or result. For example: "The new law will take effect next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They could take effect shortly.

The New York Times

The change will take effect in October.

The New York Times

That will take effect in July.

The Economist

The system would take effect in 2015.

The New York Times

Changes to entitlements take effect only gradually.

The Economist

The rules take effect on Aug. 22.

The New York Times

The plan will take effect in 2013.

The New York Times

It would take effect in 2016.

The New York Times

The changes will take effect Thursday.

The New York Times

Her appointment will take effect in January.

The New York Times

Southern independence would take effect July 9.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take effect" to clearly indicate when a change, rule, or agreement starts to have an impact or becomes operational.

Common error

Avoid using "take effect" when you mean "have an effect". "Take effect" refers to the start of something's influence, while "have an effect" refers to the influence itself. For example, say "The policy will take effect next Monday" (when it starts), not "The policy will have effect next Monday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take effect" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of an action, rule, or law. It describes the moment when something becomes operational or starts to produce a result. As seen in Ludwig examples, it often appears in contexts related to policy changes or new regulations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take effect" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate the commencement of an action, rule, or law. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's widely used in news and formal contexts to specify when changes become operational. To use it effectively, remember to clarify the exact date or time of implementation. Avoid confusing "take effect" with "have an effect", as they describe different aspects of influence. When looking for alternatives, consider phrases like "become operative" or "come into force" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. With its frequent usage and clear meaning, mastering "take effect" enhances clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become effective

Stresses the achievement of having the intended result or outcome.

be in effect

Describes the state of being operational or valid.

become operative

Focuses on the technical or legal aspect of starting to function.

come into force

Primarily used in legal or official contexts, emphasizing the authority behind the activation.

go live

Common in technology and project management, indicating the moment of public release or activation.

begin to apply

Highlights the start of a rule or principle being relevant and impacting situations.

be implemented

Highlights the active process of putting something into action, rather than just its start.

be activated

Suggests that something is being deliberately switched on or made functional.

commence operation

Formal way of expressing the beginning of operations, often used in business or technical fields.

kick in

Informal way to describe something starting to have an effect, often suddenly or noticeably.

FAQs

How is "take effect" used in a sentence?

Use "take effect" to indicate when a rule, law, or change becomes operational or starts to have an impact. For example, "The new policy will "take effect" on January 1st".

What can I say instead of "take effect"?

Alternatives include "become operative", "come into force", or "become effective" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "take effect" or "go into effect"?

"Take effect" and "go into effect" are both correct and have the same meaning, though "take effect" is slightly more common. They both indicate the commencement of something's operation.

What's the difference between "take effect" and "have an effect"?

"Take effect" refers to the moment something begins to have an influence, whereas "have an effect" describes the influence itself. For instance, "The medicine will "take effect" in an hour" (start working), meaning it will then "have an effect" on your symptoms.