taking vacation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "taking vacation" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to the act of going on a holiday or break from work. Example: "I am taking vacation next week to relax and recharge." Alternative expressions include "going on holiday" and "taking time off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

The news release admonishes him for "taking vacation, not responsibility".

The New York Times

Money, however, isn't always the barrier to taking vacation – fear is, too.

The Guardian - Money

After taking vacation and furlough time to attend the trial, he went back to work on Thursday.

The New York Times - Arts

She also performed on Ms. Deen's signature cruises, taking vacation time to do so, though her expenses were paid.

The New York Times

In some ways, he said, "you are punished for taking vacation, by out-of-control e-mails".

The New York Times

"Those are the people that are probably working multiple hours on their vacation or not taking vacation at all".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Taking vacations.

The New York Times

Many fewer were taking vacations".

The New York Times - Sports

I stopped taking vacations.

Vice

She didn't take vacation".

The New York Times

You could take vacation time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Include the indefinite article when referring to a specific event, for example, 'I am "taking a vacation" to Hawaii next month'.

Common error

Do not use "taking vacation" when you mean to move out of a property. In legal or real estate contexts, use the verb 'vacating' instead. While they share a root, "taking vacation" exclusively implies a holiday or period of rest.

Linguistic Context

In most contexts, "taking vacation" functions as a gerund-participial phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it often serves as the object of a preposition (e.g., 'punished for "taking vacation"') or as a direct object when discussing corporate habits and personal behaviors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "taking vacation" is a robust and essential part of the English lexicon, particularly within the American professional sphere. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage in high-tier publications to address everything from work-life balance to economic productivity. While it is often used interchangeably with "taking a vacation", the version without the article is stylistically favored when discussing policies, cultural trends or general habits. Writers should feel confident using this phrase in any register, though they might consider "going on holiday" when writing for a primarily British audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taking a vacation

Adds the indefinite article to refer to a single, specific instance of holiday time

going on vacation

Uses a different verb to emphasize the transition from work to leisure

taking time off

A broader term that can include sick leave or personal days alongside vacations

taking leave

More formal and common in corporate or military environments

going on holiday

The standard British English equivalent of the American 'taking vacation'

taking annual leave

Specific to the yearly allowance of paid time off provided by an employer

taking a break

Less formal and often implies a shorter duration than a full vacation

vacationing

A single-word verb form that focuses on the state of being on holiday

taking a trip

Focuses on the travel aspect rather than just the absence from work

taking personal time

A professional euphemism used to describe absence without specifying the activity

FAQs

How do I use "taking vacation" in a sentence?

You can use it as a gerund phrase to describe the act of resting, such as in 'Many employees are afraid of "taking vacation" due to heavy workloads'.

What is the difference between "taking vacation" and "taking a vacation"?

The phrase without the article is often more abstract or collective, while "taking a vacation" refers to one specific holiday event.

Can I say "taking leave" instead of "taking vacation"?

Yes, "taking leave" is a more formal alternative frequently used in official HR documentation or the military.

Is it better to say "going on holiday" or "taking vacation"?

It depends on your audience; "going on holiday" is the preferred term in British English, while "taking vacation" is standard in American English.