take for word

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take for word" is not correct in English; the correct expression is "take at face value" or "take someone at their word." You can use it when you want to express that you are accepting what someone says as true without questioning it.
Example: "I tend to take him at his word when he says he will help with the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

American officials say they cannot tell an applicant how long it will take for word from Washington, and that very few visas have been issued to men in this category.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Our suggestions were often taken word-for-word".

BBC

The description of the project was also taken word-for-word from a description by Clowes of his comic.

Wikipedia

Some of the dialogue from the fifth season is taken word for word from the Sun's newsroom.

The New Yorker

The performance begins with the statement: "The following has been taken word for word from interviews and correspondence".

The Guardian

In 1982 it took weeks for word of the month-long siege to leak out.

The Economist

The first clause is taken word for word from Iamblichus' On Common Mathematical Science (p. 70.1 Festa).

SEP

"It takes time for words to get into the more formal, published dictionaries," he said.

The New York Times

Don't take my word for it, judge for yourself.

TechCrunch

For scarred they will be, take my word for it".

The New Yorker

Take their word for it, but see it for yourself.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "take for word". Instead, use the correct idiom "take someone at their word" to convey that you are accepting someone's statement as true.

Common error

The error arises from using the incorrect preposition. Always remember the correct idiomatic expression is "take someone at their word", not "take for word".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take for word" is an incorrect attempt to form an idiomatic expression. A correct expression, like "take someone at their word", serves as a declarative phrase to indicate acceptance of someone's statement. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "take for word" is grammatically incorrect. The correct idiom is "take someone at their word", which means to believe what someone says. As Ludwig highlights, "take for word" isn't a recognized or grammatically sound phrase in English. Alternatives include "take it at face value" or "believe implicitly". Therefore, avoid using "take for word" and opt for the correct and clear alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take someone at their word

Uses the correct preposition "at" instead of "for" to indicate accepting someone's statement as true.

take it at face value

Implies accepting something without deeper analysis, focusing on the apparent meaning.

believe implicitly

Emphasizes unquestioning belief, removing any hint of doubt or scrutiny.

accept without question

Highlights the absence of doubt or investigation in believing something.

trust wholeheartedly

Focuses on the emotional aspect of trust and complete faith in someone or something.

give credence to

Suggests lending credibility or believability to a statement or claim.

regard as gospel

Treats something as an absolute truth or unquestionable fact.

swallow something hook, line, and sinker

Idiomatically means to believe something completely and uncritically, often a deception.

buy it

Informal way to say you believe something.

fall for it

Often implies being deceived, believing something untrue or misleading.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say I believe someone?

The correct way to say you believe someone is to "take someone at their word". This idiom means you accept what they say as true.

What does it mean to take someone at their word?

To "take someone at their word" means to believe them and accept their statement as true without further questioning or verification.

Are there alternatives to "take someone at their word"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "take it at face value", "believe implicitly", or "accept without question" depending on the context.

Is "take for word" a grammatically correct phrase?

No, "take for word" is not grammatically correct. The correct idiom is "take someone at their word", using the preposition "at".