takes upon herself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "takes upon herself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone who assumes responsibility or a role, often in a context of duty or obligation. Example: "In times of crisis, she takes upon herself the task of leading the team to ensure everything runs smoothly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Fleeing her husband for obscure reasons, she takes upon herself, with considerable enthusiasm, Willie's sexual education.

The New York Times - Books

One of the heroines of Shuffle!, Kaede believes it her duty in life is to take care of Rin, which she takes upon herself in order to atone for her treatment of him in the past and bears a one-sided love towards Rin.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

With the passing of Wagner (1883), she took upon herself the management of the Bayreuth Festivals, of which she was art director until 1908, when her son took over.

Encyclopedia Britannica

From her royal vantage point, she took upon herself the founding of a school in 1686 at Saint-Cyr near Versailles a higher school principally for orphan girls descended from noble families.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In his Westminster Hall speech, President de Gaulle recalled how the UK, "heroic and alone, took upon herself the liberty of the world".

BBC

If an individual volunteers to take upon herself the task rather than leaving it to the selected person, and particularly when it is wrong to select anyone, then clearly her act is supererogatory.

SEP

Lebrón took upon herself the responsibility of taking care of her father.

Wikipedia

Our 9-year-old had taken upon herself to make sure that her 4-year-old foster sister was happy, was healing, and was learning.

Huffington Post

Alina, of course, has no obligation to help me get around town, but she takes it upon herself to do what she can.

The Guardian - Travel

And she took it upon herself to take me to a psychologist.

BMC Family Practice

Stuck in the country, Iris takes it upon herself to set out how her Damon should conduct himself in her absence.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "takes upon herself" when you want to emphasize the voluntary nature of assuming a responsibility, especially when it might not be expected.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "takes upon herself" can sound slightly antiquated in formal writing. Consider using more direct alternatives like "assumes responsibility" for a more contemporary tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "takes upon herself" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of voluntarily assuming a responsibility or duty. It suggests a proactive and intentional acceptance of a task, as highlighted by the examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33.33%

Wiki

33.33%

Encyclopedias

33.33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "takes upon herself" correctly describes someone who willingly accepts a responsibility or duty. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and offers examples from sources like The New York Times and Wikipedia. While not extremely frequent, the phrase is generally considered neutral in tone, making it suitable for various writing contexts. If a more contemporary or direct tone is desired, alternatives such as "assumes responsibility" or "takes on the responsibility" can be considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assumes responsibility

This alternative replaces the idiomatic "takes upon herself" with a more direct and straightforward expression.

takes on the responsibility

This option is more explicit about the nature of what is being taken on: the "responsibility".

makes it her responsibility

This rephrases the sentence to emphasize that the responsibility is now personal.

shoulders the burden

This implies taking on something difficult or onerous, adding an element of burden.

assumes the duty

Similar to 'assumes responsibility' but with a focus on moral or legal obligation.

accepts the obligation

Focuses on the acceptance of a binding requirement or duty.

takes the initiative

Focuses on being proactive and starting something without being asked.

takes charge of

Implies taking control and leading a situation or task.

steps up to the plate

An idiomatic expression for accepting a challenge or responsibility.

volunteers to do it

Highlights the willingness and lack of compulsion in accepting the role.

FAQs

What does "takes upon herself" mean?

The phrase "takes upon herself" means to assume a responsibility or duty, often voluntarily. It suggests that the person is willingly accepting a task or obligation.

What can I say instead of "takes upon herself"?

You can use alternatives like "assumes responsibility", "takes on the responsibility", or "shoulders the burden" depending on the context.

Is it "take upon herself" or "takes upon herself"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "take upon herself" with plural subjects or "I/you". Use "takes upon herself" with singular subjects like "she", "he", or "it".

How to use "takes upon herself" in a sentence?

Example: "She "takes upon herself" the responsibility of organizing the event each year."