taken up work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "taken up work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone who has started a new job or task. Example: "After a long search, she has finally taken up work at a local nonprofit organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

For her younger dorm-mate Zahra, who's taken up work at a bank, it's no big deal.

The Guardian

It looks as if Walsh has taken up work as an estate agent, and he certainly looks the part, but we then see that he is at home.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The G20 and the OECD have both also taken up work on profit-shifting, in recognition of the huge hit to a budget's bottom line.

The Guardian - Opinion

They dim again when she learns that he's saddled with a wife and two children, and the glow that suffuses Irina has faded by the second of the play's four acts, when she has taken up work at the telegraph office and discovered that humble labor is no more fulfilling than her previous, idle existence.

The New York Times

In October, it emerged Lansley has also taken up work advising corporate clients on innovation in healthcare for management consultants Bain & Company, as well as working for a consultancy set up by his wife called Low Associates for which he would provide "expertise on competition, economic regulation, health and social care, local government and the communications industry".

The Guardian

Susan Hutchinson, a fellow student at the Australian National University, where Sutton was studying for a PhD focused on international development support to female media professionals in Iraq and Afghanistan, said she did not believe Sutton took her own life, adding that the IWPR had recently "taken up work countering the anti-women messaging" of Islamic State.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Taking up work that you enjoy doing, and making a career out of it is probably the easiest way to lead truly rewarding lives.

Huffington Post

Create greater incentives to take up work.

The Guardian

Reduce the financial and administrative barriers to taking up work.

The Guardian

He later came back, but took up work as a welder.

Independent

He quit and took up work ironing pants for about 200 rupees a day, or $2.50.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "taken up work" to indicate that someone has started a new job, project, or responsibility. This phrase is especially useful when you want to emphasize the act of assuming a new role or task.

Common error

Avoid using "took up work" passively (e.g., "Work was taken up by him"). While grammatically valid, it's less clear and direct than the active voice (e.g., "He took up work"). The active voice is almost always preferable for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "taken up work" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of employment or a specific task. It typically follows a subject (person or entity) and signifies the action of starting a job or activity. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "taken up work" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to express that someone has started a new job or task. According to Ludwig, it's correct and appropriate for diverse writing contexts. While not extremely frequent, it appears commonly in News & Media, Science, and Academia. Consider alternatives like "started working" or "began employment" for slight variations in meaning or formality. Remember that while the passive voice is grammatically correct, the active voice is preferred for clearer communication. "Taken up work" effectively communicates the commencement of a new professional or vocational role.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

started working

Focuses on the action of beginning to work rather than the act of assuming a role.

started a job

A more generic way of saying someone has begun working.

began employment

More formal and emphasizes the initiation of an employment relationship.

commenced work

Formal; highlights the official start of work.

embarked on a career

Emphasizes starting a longer-term professional path.

assumed a position

Highlights the acceptance of a specific job or role.

entered the workforce

Focuses on joining the broader working population.

secured employment

Highlights the act of successfully obtaining a job.

found work

Simple and direct way of expressing that someone obtained a job.

landed a job

Informal; conveys the success of getting a job.

FAQs

How can I use "taken up work" in a sentence?

You can use "taken up work" to indicate that someone has started a new job or responsibility. For example, "After graduating, she "took up work" as a software engineer."

What are some alternatives to saying "taken up work"?

Alternatives include "started working", "began employment", or "landed a job", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is there a difference between "took up work" and "found work"?

"Took up work" suggests actively assuming a role or task, whereas "found work" simply means that someone has located employment, with no suggestion of the level of work that has been found.

Which is correct, "taken up work" or "took up work"?

Both "taken up work" and "took up work" are grammatically correct, but "taken up work" is present perfect tense, used to describe actions that started in the past and continue to the present or have a consequence in the present. "Took up work" is past simple.