taking seriously

USAGE SUMMARY

"taking seriously" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing the importance or gravity of a situation or issue. Example: "We need to start taking climate change seriously." Alternative expressions include "treating with respect" and "considering earnestly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It's worth taking seriously.

The Guardian

This is a point worth taking seriously.

The New Yorker

Even so, the arguments merit taking seriously.

The Economist

The idea, he argued, was worth taking seriously.

The New Yorker

I was also taking seriously the naming of my daughter.

The New York Times

HBS's survey is worth taking seriously for two reasons.

The Economist

There's a narrative there, which people aren't quite taking seriously".

The New Yorker

Whoever wins in November, these thoughts are worth taking seriously.

The Economist

That is why the international lessons are worth taking seriously.

The Economist

The ideas in the report are worth taking seriously.

The New Yorker

None the less, American preconceptions about Europe require taking seriously.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with the verb 'worth' to justify why a specific topic requires careful consideration in professional or academic writing.

Common error

Avoid using 'taking serious' in place of "taking seriously". Since 'taking' is a verb form, it must be modified by the adverb 'seriously' to describe the manner in which the action is performed. Using the adjective 'serious' here is a common colloquialism that should be avoided in formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "taking seriously" acts as a gerund or present participle phrase where the verb 'taking' is modified by the adverb 'seriously'. According to Ludwig AI, it typically functions as a direct object, a complement or part of a continuous verb tense to indicate the intensity of focus.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "taking seriously" is a robust and essential phrase in the English language for expressing commitment and importance. Data from Ludwig AI demonstrates its prevalence in high-quality journalism and academic discourse, where it often appears in the context of global threats, political candidates and scientific conjectures. It is a grammatically standard construction that relies on the adverbial modifier to convey the gravity of an action. Writers should feel confident using it to add weight to their arguments and signal that a topic merits careful and sincere consideration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considering earnestly

Focuses more on the deliberate mental process of evaluation

treating with gravity

Emphasizes the solemnity or heaviness of the situation

giving due weight to

Uses a metaphor of weight to suggest proportional importance

viewing with importance

Shifts the focus to the perspective or perception of the subject

attending to strictly

Implies a more rigorous or disciplined approach to the matter

addressing solemnly

Suggests a formal or official response to a serious issue

handling with care

Focuses on the cautious management of a sensitive topic

approaching with rigor

Highlights a systematic and thorough analytical methodology

recognizing the gravity of

Explicitly mentions acknowledgment of the serious nature of something

valuing significantly

Emphasizes the high worth or priority assigned to the subject

FAQs

How to use "taking seriously" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an action or a state, such as in the sentence: "The government is finally "taking seriously" the threat of climate change."

What can I say instead of "taking seriously"?

You can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/considering+earnestly" target="_blank" rel="alternative">considering earnestly", "<a href="/s/treating+with+gravity" target="_blank" rel="alternative">treating with gravity", or "<a href="/s/giving+due+weight+to" target="_blank" rel="alternative">giving due weight to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say taking serious?

No, you should use "taking seriously" because an adverb is needed to modify the verb. Using "<a href="/s/taking+serious" target="_blank" rel="alternative">taking serious" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English.

What's the difference between "taking seriously" and "<a href="/s/paying+attention+to" target="_blank" rel="alternative">paying attention to"?

While both involve focus, "taking seriously" implies a deeper level of respect, commitment or acknowledgment of importance, whereas "<a href="/s/paying+attention+to" target="_blank" rel="alternative">paying attention to" can be a more neutral observation of focus.