take for

USAGE SUMMARY

"take for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to assume something as true or express an opinion about something. For example: "I take for granted that the government will act in the best interests of its citizens."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Take, for instance, history.

The Economist

Take, for example, suicides.

The New Yorker

Take for instance Maj.

The New York Times

Take, for instance, ToonPaint.

The New York Times - Tech

Take, for instance, Stuxnet.

Computer Fraud & Security

Take, for instance, Kamal Nath.

The New York Times

Take, for instance, Google Now.

The New York Times

Take, for example, women's studies.

The New York Times

Take, for example, the VegiBee.

The New York Times - Tech

Take, for instance, yesterday afternoon.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Take for-profit colleges.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take for" to express an assumption or belief about someone or something, as in "I take it for granted that you'll be there."

Common error

Be cautious when using "take for" in contexts where it could be confused with defrauding someone. Clarify the intended meaning to avoid misinterpretations, especially in sensitive discussions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take for" primarily functions as a verb phrase. It is used to express the act of regarding, considering, or assuming something or someone to be a certain way. Ludwig shows various contexts where this phrase is employed to illustrate assumptions or judgments.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take for" is a versatile expression used to convey assumptions, judgments, or considerations. As evidenced by Ludwig, it appears frequently in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. The phrase is considered grammatically correct and widely accepted, but one should be mindful of potential misinterpretations, especially when implying deception. To avoid ambiguity, ensure clarity when using "take for" and consider alternative phrases like "regard as" or "consider as" for increased precision. The widespread use of "take for" underscores its importance in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regard as

Focuses on the act of considering or thinking about something in a particular way.

consider as

Similar to regard as, but emphasizes a more formal or deliberate assessment.

view as

Highlights a perspective or opinion on something.

deem as

Suggests a judgment or decision about something's quality or nature.

hold as

Implies a belief or conviction about something.

assume to be

Emphasizes the act of supposing something is true without proof.

presume to be

Similar to assume, but suggests a stronger degree of confidence.

mistake for

Implies an error in identifying something or someone.

erroneously believe

Highlights the incorrectness of a belief.

wrongly consider

Emphasizes the incorrectness of a consideration or judgment.

FAQs

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

You can use "take for" to mean 'regard as' or 'consider'. For example, "Do you "take me for a fool"?" or "I "take it for granted" that you'll complete the task.

What's a more formal alternative to "take for"?

Formal alternatives include "regard as", "consider as", or "deem as", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "taken for" instead of "take for"?

The form "taken for" is the past participle, used in perfect tenses or passive constructions. For example, "He was "taken for a ride"". "Take for" is the base form, used in present tense.

What's the difference between "take for example" and "take for instance"?

Both "take for example" and "take for instance" are used to introduce an example to illustrate a point. They are largely interchangeable, with "take for example" being slightly more common.