take up more time

USAGE SUMMARY

"take up more time" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something that requires more of your time or that will take longer than expected. For example: "Studying for the exam is going to take up more time than I originally thought."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

It would take up more time and resource than the business can afford.

The Guardian

Jupitus's introductions to the poems take up more time than the poems themselves.

The Guardian

Q.: Sports programs in schools have become bigger and take up more time.

The New York Times

Keeping warm, clean, fed, organised, alive, all take up more time than we would wish.

The Guardian

Though money is tight, Ms. Karasawa does not let her job take up more time than necessary.

The New York Times

Two students in Ms. Snyder's class, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid alienating their teacher, said that Philip did take up more time than the other students, but not egregiously so, and that his contributions were solid.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

The fallout, in fact, took up more time than the writing.

The Guardian - Opinion

"By the time they get the I.R.S. on the phone, they're frustrated, and they vent awhile, which takes up more time," she said.

The New Yorker

At that time learning about Euro-myths – smaller condoms, square strawberries, fishermen forced to wear hairnets – took up more time than explaining treaty changes.

The Guardian - Opinion

"At that time learning about Euro-myths – smaller condoms, square strawberries, fishermen forced to wear hairnets – took up more time than explaining treaty changes," she wrote.

The Guardian

Since they started doing this work, which takes up more time than most full-time employment, two of the men have lost their construction jobs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When planning projects, proactively identify potential bottlenecks or complexities that could cause tasks to "take up more time" than initially estimated. Build buffer time into your schedules to accommodate these unforeseen delays.

Common error

Don't underestimate how seemingly small delays that "take up more time" can compound and significantly impact overall project timelines. Track minor delays carefully to prevent major scheduling issues.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take up more time" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of consuming or requiring a greater amount of time. It is used to describe the duration or length of an activity or process, as shown in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

23%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis reveals that "take up more time" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express that something requires more time than expected. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous real-world examples across diverse contexts, including news, science, and wikis. While its register is generally neutral, consider the specific context to ensure the phrase aligns with the intended tone and style. For alternatives, consider phrases such as "require additional time" or "consume more time" to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

require additional time

Focuses on the necessity of extra time being needed.

demand more time

Emphasizes the need for a greater time commitment.

consume more time

Highlights the aspect of time being used up.

extend the duration

Suggests a lengthening of the time period.

prolong the timeline

Implies a stretching out of the project's schedule.

necessitate a longer period

Highlights the need for an extended time frame.

add to the time commitment

Focuses on the additional time investment required.

entail a greater time expenditure

Emphasizes the spending or using up of time.

increase the time allocation

Focuses on the act of assigning more time to something.

stretch out the schedule

Suggests making the schedule longer

FAQs

How can I rephrase "take up more time" in a sentence?

You can use alternatives such as "require additional time", "demand more time", or "consume more time" depending on the specific context.

Is "take up more time" grammatically correct?

Yes, "take up more time" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to describe something that requires or consumes a greater amount of time than expected or desired. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

What's a subtle way to indicate that something will "take up more time"?

Consider phrases like "extend the duration" or "prolong the timeline" for a more nuanced approach, suggesting a gradual increase in time needed.

When is it appropriate to use "take up more time" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "take up more time" in various contexts, from formal reports to casual conversations, whenever you need to express that an activity, task, or process requires a greater time commitment. Just ensure it fits the overall tone and style of your writing.