take up duties

USAGE SUMMARY

"take up duties" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a person officially accepting a responsibility or task. Example: After her studies were finished, Jill was eager to take up her new duties as a teacher.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Takes up duties in September.

The Guardian - Sport

Since then, he has rallied and taken up duties in the Murdoch-backed Cameron government.

The New York Times

From the hospital the story flashes back to the 1930's, when Rose was a prim young schoolteacher taking up duties at a largely black school in Newark.

The New York Times

With BSL signer Nadia Nadarajah playing the Pilot and Charmaine Wombwell as the voice of the Pilot, the duality of the character, and the war being waged inside her as she takes up duties in the "chairforce", flying remote-controlled drones over the desert landscapes of the Middle East, becomes heightened.

The Guardian

We assessed the availability, cost, and content of generic short courses designed to teach basic critical care skills to junior physicians or nonspecialist intensive care physicians taking up duties in intensive care units.

Journal of Critical Care

He posted in to No. 1 Middle East Training School in January 1943 prior to taking up duties with No. 3 Squadron RAAF, which was then engaged in the Battle of Tunisia.

Wikipedia

In England he spent a brief time on attachment to the 4th Dragoon Guards at Tidworth before taking up duties on the staff of the Wessex Division, at that time entering its annual camp.

Wikipedia

In 1973, he was posted to the United States as the Australian Air Attache to Washington, D.C. Promoted to air vice marshal, he returned to Australia in 1975 and took up duties as the Deputy Chief of Air Staff, which he later described as "an invaluable learning experience for the top job".

Wikipedia

New UNICEF Representative takes up duties in Liberia Monrovia, Liberia, 20 October 2009 – Newly appointed UNICEF country representative Isabel Crowley has officially taken up her duties in Liberia today by presenting her credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon.

Unicef

At a press conference this morning, the Philharmonic introduced van Zweden, who will take up his duties in 2018.

The New Yorker

Some doormen were skeptical that contract workers or volunteers would be able to take up their duties.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take up duties" when emphasizing the formal acceptance and commencement of specific responsibilities or a role.

Common error

Avoid using "take up duties" when referring to claiming entitlements or privileges. "Duties" refers to obligations and responsibilities, not rights.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take up duties" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of beginning to perform a job or responsibility. This is supported by Ludwig, which shows examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take up duties" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that describes the commencement of a role or responsibilities. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is most frequently found in news and media, Wiki, and formal business contexts, suggesting a neutral to professional register. While its usage is broad, it's important to distinguish it from similar phrases like "take on duties", which implies accepting additional responsibilities rather than starting a new role. Therefore, understanding its specific connotation is essential for accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

step into a role

Focuses on the transition into a new position.

assume responsibilities

Focuses on the act of accepting responsibility rather than starting a specific role.

undertake obligations

Highlights acceptance of a formal obligation.

begin work

Emphasizes the commencement of work, a more general term.

shoulder the responsibilities

Highlights the burden of taking responsibility.

commence employment

A more formal way to say begin work, emphasizing the employment aspect.

assume the mantle

Suggests inheriting a position of authority or responsibility.

embark on responsibilities

Highlights the start of something challenging.

get down to business

An idiomatic expression for beginning serious work.

inaugurate service

Stresses the official commencement of a service or role.

FAQs

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

You can use "take up duties" to describe someone starting a new job or role, as in, "She will "take up duties" as the new CEO next month."

What's a more formal alternative to "take up duties"?

A more formal alternative would be "assume responsibilities" or "commence employment". For example, "The newly appointed director will "assume responsibilities" on the first of July."

Is it correct to say "took up duties" or should I always use "take up duties"?

Both are correct, but the tense depends on the context. "Took up duties" is used for past actions, while "take up duties" is for future or general actions. For example, "He "took up duties" last week" (past) versus "He will "take up duties" next week" (future).

What is the difference between "take up duties" and "take on duties"?

"Take up duties" usually implies formally beginning a new role or set of responsibilities. "Take on duties" suggests accepting additional responsibilities, not necessarily starting a new role. For instance, "He will "take up duties" as manager" versus "He will "take on duties" as temporary supervisor".