take on debt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take on debt" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to borrowing money such as taking out a loan or a credit card. For example: "The company decided to take on debt in order to finance a major expansion project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We take on debt to get things done.

Huffington Post

Don't take on debt.

The Guardian

"Why take on debt and obligate yourself?

The New York Times

"You take on debt to expand your business," he said.

The New York Times

Yahoo would then take on debt to finance a stock buyback.

The New York Times

"Most states require a balanced budget and forbid the state to take on debt," he said.

The New York Times

Governments have encouraged more people to become homeowners and thus to take on debt.

The Economist

So encouraging people to take on debt qualifies as a genuinely bad idea.

The New Yorker

There were also concerns with the plan for the franchise to take on debt.

The New York Times - Sports

"To take on debt to buy your stock is a recipe for disaster".

The New York Times

That is, it's going to issue equity, rather than take on debt.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial decisions, consider the audience and choose specific terms (e.g. "take out a loan" instead of "take on debt") for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "take on debt" as a universal replacement for more specific financial actions. Always consider if a more precise term like "borrow", "finance", or "mortgage" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take on debt" functions as a phrasal verb, where "take on" acts as the verb and "debt" as the object. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It describes the action of assuming financial obligations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take on debt" is a common and grammatically correct phrasal verb used to describe the act of assuming financial obligations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used in news, business, and academic contexts. While there are numerous alternatives such as "incur debt" or "borrow money", "take on debt" often implies a more strategic or significant decision. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the context of your writing and avoid overgeneralizing it as a substitute for more specific financial actions. Being mindful of the audience helps tailor communication effectively using precise terms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incur debt

Focuses on the result of the action, emphasizing that debt has been acquired.

assume debt

Highlights the responsibility and acceptance of the debt.

acquire debt

Similar to "incur debt", emphasizing the gaining of debt.

borrow money

A more general term indicating the act of receiving funds that need to be repaid.

go into debt

Implies entering a state of indebtedness.

become indebted

Formal way to express falling into a state of owing money.

run up a debt

Indicates accumulating debt, often through spending.

take out a loan

Specifically refers to obtaining a loan.

get into the red

Idiomatic expression for accumulating debt or losing money.

leverage funds

More formal and business-oriented, implying strategic use of debt.

FAQs

How can I use "take on debt" in a sentence?

You can use "take on debt" to describe the act of assuming financial obligations, such as "The company decided to "take on debt" to expand its operations".

What are some alternatives to saying "take on debt"?

Instead of "take on debt", you can use phrases like "incur debt", "assume debt", or "borrow money" depending on the context.

Is it better to "take on debt" or "borrow money"?

While both phrases relate to acquiring funds, "borrow money" is more direct. "Take on debt" often implies a more significant or strategic decision involving financial obligations. Choose the phrase that best fits the context of your writing.

What is the difference between "take on debt" and "accumulate debt"?

"Take on debt" refers to the initial act of assuming financial obligations, while "accumulate debt" describes the process of debt growing over time. For example, one might "take on debt" to buy a house and then "accumulate debt" if they fail to make payments.