take ownership

USAGE SUMMARY

"take ownership" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to suggest that someone take responsibility for a certain task or outcome. For example, "It's important to take ownership of this project and make sure it is successful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Take Ownership.

Harvard Business Review

I take ownership in it.

The New York Times

Take ownership of civility.

Harvard Business Review

But I do take ownership of it.

The New York Times - Sports

You have to ultimately take ownership".

The New Yorker

"Take ownership of your area".

The New York Times

"They take ownership," he said.

The New Yorker

Take ownership of your plate.

The Washington Post

c. take ownership of the material.

Cornell University

The community has got to take ownership".

The Guardian

We have to take ownership of that".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take ownership", clearly define what the individual or team is taking ownership of. This avoids ambiguity and ensures everyone understands their responsibilities.

Common error

Avoid assigning "take ownership" to multiple parties for the same task without clearly defined roles. This can lead to confusion and a lack of accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take ownership" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often used to encourage or describe the act of accepting responsibility and control over a task, project, or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

21%

Science

26%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take ownership" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression, as verified by Ludwig AI, that encourages responsibility and control. It is used across various contexts, with the most frequent being news and media, academia, and science. While synonyms like "assume responsibility" and "take responsibility" exist, "take ownership" emphasizes a deeper sense of personal investment. When using this phrase, clarity in defining what is being owned is essential to avoid confusion. Overall, "take ownership" is a valuable phrase for promoting accountability and proactive engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assume responsibility

This alternative places more emphasis on the duty or obligation associated with a task or situation, shifting the focus from possession to accountability.

take accountability

This alternative highlights the act of being answerable for outcomes and actions, emphasizing the willingness to be judged.

accept responsibility

This option focuses on acknowledging and bearing the consequences of one's actions or decisions.

bear responsibility

This alternative carries a slightly more formal tone, suggesting the shouldering of a significant burden or duty.

take charge

This phrase emphasizes the act of assuming control and leadership over a situation or project.

take control

This alternative focuses on gaining power and authority over something, highlighting the act of directing and managing.

become responsible

This implies a transformation towards being the one who is accountable. It suggest an assumption of responsibilities, duties and obligations

adopt responsibility

This variation suggests a proactive choice to embrace responsibility, highlighting a conscious decision to be accountable.

embrace ownership

This alternative emphasizes a more emotional and invested connection, suggesting a wholehearted acceptance and commitment.

shoulder responsibility

This emphasizes the burden of responsibility, highlighting the act of personally taking on a task, project or duty.

FAQs

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

You can use "take ownership" to encourage responsibility, as in: "Each team member should "take ownership" of their assigned tasks to ensure project success." It can also be used to indicate acceptance of a situation: "After the mistake, he needed to "take ownership" of what he had done".

What's the difference between "take ownership" and "take responsibility"?

"Take ownership" implies a deeper sense of personal investment and control, while "take responsibility" primarily focuses on accountability for actions or outcomes. One is about mindset, the other is about actions.

Is it correct to say "takes ownership" or ""take ownership""?

Both are correct, depending on the subject. Use ""take ownership"" with plural subjects (e.g., "They "take ownership"") and "takes ownership" with singular subjects (e.g., "She takes ownership").

What are some synonyms for ""take ownership""?

Synonyms include "assume responsibility", "take responsibility", "take accountability", and "become responsible", all of which emphasize accountability and control.