take form of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'take form of' is correct and usable in written English.
The phrase is used to indicate that something is changing or taking on a different form. For example, "The idea began to take form of an actual plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Partial solutions take form of vortices.

Advances in Space Research

BUT HERRIOT WILL INSIST Reply to Take Form of Questionnaire on Guarantees as to Polish and Czech Boundaries.

The New York Times

The speckle light patterns take form of "beats", for which the amplitude and frequency are directly correlated with the voltage and frequency, respectively, of the applied AC field.

Stanford University

By wielding her ancestor's Tantu Totem, she can take form of any animal.

HuffPost

Whether about life experiences, cooking recipes, DIY projects for the home, or wedding inspirations, blogging can take form of anything you want to share your knowledge about.

Huffington Post

Co-teaching can also take form of teacher-teams which include general education and special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and building specialists who also design the intervention plan at different tiers to discuss the role of second language acquisition issues and ESL strategies for co-teaching.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

They take forms of religious movements, folk traditions, art or science.

SEP

The character of changes in oligodendrocytes takes form of vacuolation of endoplasmic reticulum and basal cytoplasm.

BioMed Research International

Others take the form of biases.

Harvard Business Review

This might take the form of actual monetary gain.

The Guardian

These will likely take the form of short instrumentals.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take form of" when you want to describe how an abstract idea, plan, or concept becomes concrete or visible. For example: "The artist's vision began to "take form of" a sculpture."

Common error

Avoid using "take form of" with nouns that are already concrete and visible. It's redundant to say "The statue took form of stone" because statues are, by definition, physical objects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take form of" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a process of transformation or development. It signifies that something is in the process of becoming realized or manifesting itself, whether physically or conceptually, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

8%

Academia

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "take form of" describes a process of development from an abstract or undefined state into something concrete and realized. As Ludwig AI points out, this verb phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal writing. While not as frequent as simpler alternatives like "take shape", "take form of" offers a nuanced way to express the evolution of ideas, plans, or physical entities. Be mindful to avoid using it with subjects that are already physically defined to prevent redundancy. The diverse examples curated by Ludwig emphasize its wide applicability and correct usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take shape

Emphasizes the development of a specific shape or structure, subtly different.

materialize

Single word capturing the essence of becoming real or concrete, less verbose.

develop into

Highlights the progressive growth and change into a final state.

manifest as

Emphasizes the outward demonstration or display of something.

come into being

Focuses on the start of existence or creation, slightly more formal.

evolve into

Implies a gradual and complex process of change, often over time.

assume the appearance of

Stresses the visual aspect of transformation, more descriptive.

become realized as

Focuses on the fulfillment or actualization of something, more emphatic.

be expressed as

Indicates a way of representing something in a specific medium.

coalesce into

Suggests the merging of elements into a unified whole, more technical.

FAQs

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

Use "take form of" to describe the process of something abstract becoming concrete or visible. For example, "His anxieties seemed to "take form" in his nightmares."

What's a simple way to describe something 'taking form'?

You could say it's "materializing" or "taking shape", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Which is more formal, "take form of" or "take shape"?

"Take form of" and "take shape" are quite similar, but "take form of" can lean towards a slightly more formal or literary tone depending on context.

Can "take form of" apply to abstract things as well as physical objects?

Yes, "take form of" is commonly used for both. For example, "The student's understanding of the topic began to "take form of" a coherent thesis," or "The clouds "take form of" familiar shapes."