that takes up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that takes up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that occupies space, time, or resources. Example: "The new furniture that takes up most of the living room is quite stylish."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Try designing a vehicle that takes up no road space.

The New York Times

(Today, that takes up just 3percentt of their time).

The New York Times

The amount of space that takes up is the path, the longest path.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Any building that takes up the better part of a city block qualifies as large.

The New York Times - Arts

It's the pebble that starts the landslide that takes up the rest of this novel.

The New York Times - Books

("Sex: the thing that takes up the least amount of time and causes the most trouble").

The New Yorker

And the story entitled "Sentence" is a single (unfinished) sentence that takes up eight pages.

The New Yorker

Meat, surface area – in short, a thing that takes up space.

Independent

A chintz-blanketed duplex pied-a-terre that takes up half a brownstone near Lincoln Center?

The New York Times

The alternative source is a huge gas laser that takes up an entire lab bench top.

MIT Technology Review

Bloatware -- Software that takes up a huge amount of space on your hard drive.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts like time or attention, use "that takes up" to emphasize the portion or amount being used. For example: "The project that takes up most of my time is data analysis."

Common error

Avoid using "that takes up" in simple sentences where a more direct verb would be clearer. For instance, instead of "The box that takes up space is empty", try "The box occupying space is empty".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that takes up" functions as a relative clause introducing a description of something that occupies space, time, or resources. It connects a noun or pronoun to a clause that provides more information about it. As Ludwig AI shows, it's used across many contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Academia

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

13%

Formal & Business

11%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that takes up" is a versatile and commonly used phrase. As Ludwig AI's analysis confirms, it functions as a relative clause, describing something that occupies space, time, or resources. It is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, ranging from news articles to academic papers. To enhance your writing, use "that takes up" to specify the characteristics of a noun or concept, but avoid overusing it in simple sentences where direct verbs would be more effective. Alternative phrases like "that occupies" or "that consumes" can add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that occupies

Focuses on the physical or abstract occupation of space or time.

that consumes

Emphasizes the depletion or usage of resources, especially time or energy.

that requires

Highlights the demand for resources, time, or effort.

that fills

Stresses the action of completely occupying a space or time.

that utilizes

Suggests a practical or efficient use of something, particularly space or time.

that devours

Implies a rapid or all-consuming use of resources.

that monopolizes

Highlights the exclusive control or occupation of something.

that appropriates

Focuses on the act of taking or reserving something for a particular purpose.

that engrosses

Implies complete mental or emotional absorption.

that encompasses

Indicates a comprehensive inclusion or coverage.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "that takes up" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives such as "that occupies", "that consumes", or "that requires" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "which takes up" instead of "that takes up"?

Both "that takes up" and "which takes up" can be grammatically correct, but "that" is generally preferred for restrictive clauses (essential to the sentence's meaning), while "which" is used for non-restrictive clauses (adds extra information). For example: "The task that takes up most of my day is crucial" (restrictive); "The task, which takes up most of my day, is interesting" (non-restrictive).

What's the difference between "that takes up" and "that fills"?

"That takes up" emphasizes the consumption or use of space, time, or resources, while "that fills" stresses the action of completely occupying a space. For instance, "The meeting that takes up an hour" versus "The liquid that fills the container".

Can "that takes up" be used to describe abstract concepts?

Yes, "that takes up" is versatile and suitable for describing both physical and abstract concepts. You can say "The project that takes up most of my time" or "The software that takes up a lot of disk space".