take your time

USAGE SUMMARY

"take your time" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to politely ask someone to not rush themselves. For example: "Take your time when you're doing the math problems; accuracy is more important than speed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You take your time".

The New Yorker

Also, take your time.

The New York Times

And take your time.

Independent

"Take your time, Philip.

The New Yorker

"Take your time, Lisette.

The New Yorker

So take your time.

The New York Times

Shoppers, take your time.

The New York Times

Take your time there.

The New York Times - Travel

Farmer: Take your time.

The New Yorker

JED: Take your time.

The Guardian

First, take your time.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take your time" to encourage thoroughness, especially in tasks where accuracy is crucial. For example, "When reviewing the contract, take your time to ensure every detail is correct."

Common error

Avoid using "take your time" sarcastically when actual urgency is required. Sarcasm can confuse or offend the recipient. Instead, communicate the urgency clearly and directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take your time" functions as an imperative, specifically used to offer reassurance and permission to proceed without haste. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's a directive aimed at alleviating pressure and promoting carefulness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

39%

News & Media

37%

Academia

2%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take your time" is a grammatically correct and frequently used idiomatic expression that encourages proceeding without haste. Ludwig AI shows it is suitable across various contexts, primarily in News & Media and Wiki sources, but also appearing in Academia. While generally informal, its appropriateness can extend to neutral or even professional settings with slight modifications. Remember to use it to promote accuracy and reduce pressure, avoiding sarcastic applications that could misinterpret urgency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

don't rush

A more direct and concise way of telling someone not to hurry.

proceed at your own pace

Emphasizes individual control over the speed of progress.

there's no hurry

Reassures that there is no need for haste.

feel free to take as long as you need

Offers explicit permission to use ample time.

no need to rush

Similar to "there's no hurry" but slightly more emphatic.

work at your convenience

Focuses on accommodating the individual's schedule.

go slowly

A simple instruction to reduce speed.

don't feel pressured

Alleviates any sense of obligation to be quick.

take all the time you require

A more formal way of granting ample time.

leisurely proceed

Suggests a relaxed and unhurried approach.

FAQs

How can I use "take your time" in a sentence?

You can use "take your time" to encourage someone not to rush, such as, "Take your time with the presentation; I want it to be perfect."

What's a more formal way to say "take your time"?

A more formal alternative to "take your time" would be "proceed at your own pace" or "take all the time you require".

Is it appropriate to use "take your time" in a professional setting?

Yes, "take your time" is generally appropriate in professional settings when you want to convey that accuracy and thoroughness are more important than speed. However, consider the context; it might be better to use a slightly more formal alternative like "please proceed at your convenience" in certain situations.

What can I say instead of "take your time" when there is a deadline?

If there's a deadline, instead of saying "take your time", you might say, "focus on accuracy but please aim to complete this by [date/time]" to balance thoroughness with timeliness.