take up a profession

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'take up a profession' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a person deciding to pursue a career, or to pursue a specific type of job. For example, you could say: "After graduating from college, he decided to take up a profession in finance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The first was that he should take up a profession, because writers never made any money in Egypt.

The New Yorker

A middle-aged woman had once decided to concentrate on her family and not take up a profession.

The New York Times - Magazine

Although it was not unusual for a woman of Jahangir's class to take up a profession — a number of Pakistan's senior editors and politicians are upper-middle-class women — it was almost unknown for women to enter the law.

The New Yorker

While Hasidic women largely stick to family and domestic roles and it is rare for one to take up a profession, Mr. Twerski said he has never had a problem dealing with women in the legal world.

The New York Times

"Jamaican culture has a very strong work ethic," Christina Draper says, "and John's parents were, like, 'What do you mean you're going to leave a career as a salesman to take up a profession where half the people draw unemployment?' " Still, Thompson's father says that he wasn't completely surprised when his son became an actor.

The New Yorker

They went on to encourage future chefs to take up a profession that "can be a beautiful form of self-expression", adding: "It is important to carry out our quests and fulfil our dreams with authenticity, humility, and, above all, passion.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

At the age of 50 he decided to take up a new profession and entered Straight College, New Orleans, to study law; he was subsequently admitted to the bar.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Not exclusively because of the cold war, but in part also because of national psyche and culture, these two sides are like Ninja masters who have taken up a new profession," he said.

The New York Times

The preliminary qualitative research endorses this view with some of the respondents in all three countries underlining that this was absolutely not the reason that they took up a health profession, whilst others blamed the providers they considered to be driven by financial rewards for the poor quality of care.

Global Health Action

He'd lied about his age, got a construction job, saved enough money to buy a gondola, and became the fifth in a line of Macropodios to take up the profession.

The New Yorker

The younger ones were there to get a last glimpse of someone who had inspired them to take up the profession.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take up a profession", ensure the context clearly indicates a deliberate choice to begin working in a specific field or occupation.

Common error

Avoid using "take up a profession" when the intent is to describe a hobby or a casual interest. The phrase implies a serious commitment to a career or occupation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take up a profession" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of starting or committing to a particular career or occupation. Ludwig AI confirms that it's correct in written English and can be used to indicate pursuing a career or a specific job.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take up a profession" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe someone's decision to start a career. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability in various contexts, predominantly in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Formal & Business settings. While the phrase is not exceedingly common, it is appropriate for formal and neutral communication. It’s crucial to differentiate this phrase from taking up a hobby, as this implies a commitment to a particular career. Understanding these nuances ensures accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enter a profession

Emphasizes the action of joining a specific field.

begin a career

Focuses on the initiation of a career path.

get into a field

Highlights the act of becoming involved or established in a particular domain.

choose a career path

Highlights the decision-making process in selecting a career.

select an occupation

Emphasizes the process of picking an occupation from many options.

adopt a career

Indicates the acceptance or embracing of a career path.

embark on a career

Implies a journey or undertaking into a career.

pursue a vocation

Focuses on a calling or strong inclination toward a profession.

follow a trade

Refers specifically to skilled manual occupations.

start a job

A more generic term for beginning employment.

FAQs

How can I use "take up a profession" in a sentence?

You can use "take up a profession" to describe someone starting a career. For example, "After years of volunteering, she decided to "take up a profession" in social work."

What does it mean to "take up a profession"?

To "take up a profession" means to start working in or commit to a specific career or occupation, usually after some deliberation or preparation.

What's the difference between "take up a profession" and "start a job"?

"Take up a profession" implies a more deliberate and long-term commitment to a specific field, while "start a job" is a more general term for beginning any employment.

Are there synonyms for "take up a profession"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "begin a career", "enter a profession", or "pursue a vocation" depending on the specific context.