take time to complete

USAGE SUMMARY

"take time to complete" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you need to express that something requires a significant amount of effort or time to finish. For example: "I'm working on a large project that will take time to complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"A detailed forensic examination will now follow and this is likely to take time to complete".

The Guardian

"Everyone in the neighborhood has been watching with anticipation and impatience, but great projects take time to complete," he said.

The New York Times

We do, however, recognise that this will be a complex process which will take time to complete".

Independent

Because it will take time to complete the spinoffs, Tyco has decided to raise as much cash as it can while it waits, Mr. Kozlowski said.

The New York Times

"We agreed on everything, on the basic direction for the 11.5 billion euros in savings," Mr. Stournaras said, adding that details would take time to complete.

The New York Times

Prison was also easier than it used to be, with better facilities and improved relationships with staff, making some offenders prefer a short time in jail over a community sentence, which they said could drag and take time to complete.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

It takes time to complete – hence the long queues outside – and even longer to count after the event.

The Guardian

Such an approach has not been tried in asbestos cases, in part because the research needed to make a scientific argument takes time to complete.

The New York Times

16 Although the 39 items CTS2 is a good and reliable tool, it takes time to complete.

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

These experiments have taken time to complete, but the results are unexpected and of major importance for understanding in planta functions.

eLife

It will distract you and make it take longer time to complete your work!

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When estimating project timelines, use "take time to complete" to manage expectations realistically. For example, “Implementing the new software will take time to complete, so allow for a buffer in the schedule”.

Common error

Avoid downplaying the duration needed by saying something like, "It won't take time to complete," when a more realistic estimate is warranted. Accurate timelines build trust and prevent disappointment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take time to complete" functions as a verb phrase indicating the duration required for a task or process. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It commonly introduces an explanation about the length of a task.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

46%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take time to complete" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that a task requires a certain duration to be finished. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts. It is most commonly found in News & Media and Scientific sources, with a neutral register. This phrase is useful for managing expectations and communicating realistic timelines. While alternatives like "require a period for completion" exist, "take time to complete" is direct and easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

require a period for completion

Focuses on the necessity of a duration for finishing something.

demand a duration to finalize

Emphasizes the need for a certain length of time to reach a final state.

necessitate a timeframe to conclude

Highlights the need for a specific amount of time to bring something to a close.

call for an interval to wrap up

Stresses the need for a specific time interval to finish a task.

involve a waiting period until finished

Highlights that something needs a waiting time until is done.

entail an expected lead time to conclude

Highlights the anticipation of some time before closure can be achieved.

have a processing window for culmination

Indicates a span of time during processing before something reaches its high point.

need a bit to get done

Indicates a rather informal way to express that something needs time to get done.

be a lengthy process until achieving

Specifies that what has to be done is actually long and not so immediate.

require patience to see through

Highlights the necessity of endurance until some action is achieved.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "take time to complete"?

You can use alternatives such as "require a period for completion", "necessitate a timeframe to conclude", or "demand a duration to finalize" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "takes time to complete"?

Yes, "takes time to complete" is grammatically correct. The form "takes" is used when the subject is singular or third-person singular (e.g., "The project takes time to complete").

What's the difference between "take time to complete" and "take some time to complete"?

The phrase "take some time to complete" simply emphasizes that a non negligible amount of time will be required. Both are correct and usable.

How to use "take time to complete" in a sentence?

You can use the phrase in a sentence like: "A detailed forensic examination will now follow and this is likely to take time to complete" or "Any changes to ownership rules would likely take significant time to complete".