take the course

USAGE SUMMARY

"take the course" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to encourage someone to start a certain course of study or action. For example: "If you're looking to gain new skills, I recommend you take the course in web development."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I plan to take the course.

The New York Times

I agreed to take the course.

The New York Times

I decided to take the course again, and passed.

The New York Times

They had each paid $1,195 to take the course.

The New Yorker

The IBM employees were not required to take the course; it was voluntary.

The New Yorker

"More students take the course in entrepreneurship than become entrepreneurs," he says.

The Economist

"But if they do, I think a whole lot of people should take the course".

The New York Times

"They were told by their Ph.D. adviser to take the course".

The New York Times

It's hard to see Poots finding time to take the course on.

Independent

WHO recommends they take the course to fulfill their language requirement?

The New York Times

Inspector Jones says any woman can take the course, whatever her physical condition or age.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When encouraging someone to gain specific knowledge or skills, use "take the course" to clearly suggest enrollment and active participation.

Common error

Ensure you're using "take the course" to refer to a student's participation, not an instructor's action of teaching or conducting the course. For the latter, use phrases like "teach the course" or "conduct the course".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take the course" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "take" is the main verb and "the course" is the direct object. This indicates an action performed by a subject, which is consistent with Ludwig's identification of the phrase as correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

45%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take the course" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase widely used to suggest or describe participation in a learning program. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for general use and effectively conveys the action of enrolling and engaging with a course. Its prevalence in reputable sources like The New York Times and academic publications underscores its reliability. When writing, ensure that it accurately reflects participation from a student's perspective, and consider more formal alternatives like "enroll in the course" for specific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enroll in the course

Emphasizes the act of formally registering for the course.

register for the course

Focuses on the formal act of signing up for the course.

sign up for the course

A more informal way of saying 'register for the course'.

participate in the course

Highlights active involvement and engagement within the course.

attend the course

Focuses on being present at the course sessions.

study the course

Indicates a more focused approach towards learning the material of the course.

undertake the course

Implies a more serious commitment and effort in completing the course.

pursue the course

Suggests a continuous effort to follow and complete the course objectives.

go through the course

Implies experiencing the entire duration and content of the course.

do the course

A simplified and less formal way of saying 'take the course'.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "take the course" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases such as "enroll in the course" or "undertake the course", which suggest a greater commitment.

What does it mean to "take the course"?

To "take the course" means to participate in a course of study, implying attendance, engagement with the material, and completion of assignments.

Is there a difference between "take the course" and "attend the course"?

While both phrases refer to participating in a course, "take the course" often implies a deeper involvement beyond just showing up. "Attend the course" simply means being present.

What are some informal alternatives to "take the course"?

Informal alternatives include "do the course" or "sign up for the course", which are more casual and conversational.