take extra steps

USAGE SUMMARY

'take extra steps' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when describing what someone needs to do to achieve a desired result. For example, "If you want to make sure your project is successful, you should take extra steps to ensure all the necessary elements are included."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

But she said that her agency believed that it was important to take extra steps to protect it.

The New York Times - Travel

Several states now require insurance companies to offer discounts to owners who take extra steps to protect their homes.

The New York Times

This is because certain procedural requirements applied during that time period that obligated authors to take extra steps to either receive or extend their copyright protection.

University of California, Berkeley

The Dodd-Frank regulatory overhaul is forcing banks to take extra steps in the process of bundling loans, but it does not change the basic approach.

The New York Times

"If there is any sense of impropriety or any appearance of that, we should take extra steps to make sure the public's cynicism is addressed," he said.

The New York Times

"If there is any sense of impropriety or any appearance of that," Mr. Cantor said, "we should take extra steps to make sure the public's cynicism is addressed".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Taking Extra Steps to a Clean Disk Q.

The New York Times - Tech

The race organizers have taken extra steps to assure that 31,000 to 32,000 starters will finish.

The New York Times - Sports

And some were taking extra steps but didn't know if they should".

The New Yorker

This is a new technique, so the researchers took extra steps to show that this method gives us reliable results.

Harvard University

To answer the built-in difficulties of subject matter and a holiday weekend, the Philharmonic's marketers took extra steps.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take extra steps", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the 'normal' or expected steps are, so the reader understands the additional effort being made. For example, "To ensure data security, the company should take extra steps such as encrypting sensitive information and implementing two-factor authentication."

Common error

Avoid using "take extra steps" without specifying what those extra steps are. Vague statements like "We need to take extra steps to improve customer satisfaction" lack actionable information. Instead, detail the specific actions: "We need to take extra steps, such as offering personalized service and proactively addressing customer concerns, to improve customer satisfaction."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take extra steps" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating an action that involves doing more than what is normally required. Ludwig confirms this usage, highlighting that it describes the act of adding additional measures or efforts. The examples show a consistent use of the phrase to denote going above and beyond the standard procedure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "take extra steps" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of doing more than what is normally expected. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys the need for additional effort or precaution across various contexts. It is frequently encountered in news and media, academic, and general knowledge sources. While the phrase is versatile, ensure clarity by specifying the nature of these extra steps. Alternatives include "go the extra mile" or "make additional efforts", which can be employed depending on the desired nuance. By following best practices and avoiding vagueness, you can effectively use "take extra steps" to communicate the importance of going above and beyond.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go the extra mile

This alternative is an idiom that means to make more effort than is expected of you.

make additional efforts

This alternative uses more formal language to convey the same meaning of putting in extra work.

exert additional effort

This alternative is a more formal way to describe putting in extra effort. It emphasizes the exertion of energy or resources.

take further action

This alternative focuses on the 'action' aspect, implying a series of steps beyond the initial ones.

implement supplementary measures

This alternative is more formal and suggests the addition of extra precautions or actions to ensure a specific outcome.

add extra precautions

This alternative focuses on preventative actions or safety measures.

increase one's efforts

This alternative emphasizes the increase in the amount of effort applied.

apply greater diligence

This alternative emphasizes the care and thoroughness applied to a task.

make supplementary attempts

This alternative puts emphasis on the repeated nature of the attempts.

undertake more extensive measures

This alternative highlights that the scope and intensity of actions are significantly increased.

FAQs

How can I use "take extra steps" in a sentence?

You can use "take extra steps" to indicate that someone is doing more than what is normally expected or required in a certain situation. For instance, "To ensure the project is successful, we need to "go the extra mile" and "take extra steps" to meet the client's requirements."

What are some alternatives to "take extra steps"?

Several alternatives can be used in place of "take extra steps", depending on the context. Some options include "make additional efforts", "go the extra mile", or "implement supplementary measures".

Is it always necessary to "take extra steps"?

No, it's not always necessary. "Take extra steps" is usually recommended when the standard procedures are insufficient or when the situation demands a higher level of care or attention. You should "implement supplementary measures" when the expected results are not achieved.

What's the difference between "take extra steps" and "go the extra mile"?

Both phrases imply doing more than what's expected, but "go the extra mile" often carries a stronger connotation of exceeding expectations significantly and demonstrating a high level of commitment. "Take extra steps" is more general and can refer to any additional actions taken to achieve a goal.