to take effect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to take effect" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to say that something will start to be in place or happen. For example, "The new policy will take effect on January 1st."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was scheduled to take effect Jan . 1 , 2015

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Our reforms are starting to take effect.

The Guardian

The ordinance was to take effect immediately.

The New York Times

permit such statement to take effect.

Cornell University

The fax regulations were set to take effect on Monday.

The New York Times

The plan is to take effect next winter.

The New York Times

It is likely to take effect in mid-2007.

The New York Times

It is taking too long to take effect.

The Guardian

The changes are expected to take effect by Nov. 15.

The New York Times

The law is to take effect in July 2001.

The New York Times

The new name is to take effect on June 30.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying a date for when something will "take effect", be precise and clear. For example, instead of saying "The new rules will take effect soon", specify the exact date: "The new rules will take effect on January 1, 2026".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase in the past tense when referring to a future event. It's incorrect to say "The law was to take effect next week." Instead, use "The law is to take effect next week" or "The law will take effect next week".

Linguistic Context

The infinitive phrase "to take effect" typically functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating when a particular action or state will begin. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. For instance, "The law is to take effect in July 2001", where it specifies the timing of the law's implementation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to take effect" is a common and grammatically correct infinitive phrase used to indicate when something becomes operative or active, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It’s frequently found in news articles, academic papers, and business documents. The phrase serves to inform about the commencement date or the moment of something. While interchangeable with phrases like "to come into force" or "to go into effect", it's important to use the correct tense and be precise with dates. Ludwig examples show its prevalence across various contexts, highlighting its importance in clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to go into effect

Replaces 'take' with 'go', maintaining a similar level of formality and directness.

to come into force

Replaces 'take' with 'come' and 'effect' with 'force', focusing on the legal or regulatory aspect of implementation.

to become operative

Uses a more formal vocabulary, emphasizing the operational aspect of a policy or rule.

to be implemented

Focuses on the action of putting something into practice.

to be enacted

Suggests a more formal or legalistic process of becoming effective, often used for laws or regulations.

to be activated

Implies that something is made active or functional.

to start operating

Focuses on the beginning of an operational process or system.

to be valid

Specifies something is effective from a legal perspective.

to commence

Replaces the entire expression with a single verb suggesting the start of an action or process. It is a more formal way of saying "begin".

to kick in

This is an informal alternative suggesting that something starts to function or have an impact.

FAQs

What does "to take effect" mean?

The phrase "to take effect" means to become operative, active, or valid. It usually refers to a law, rule, or agreement that is about to start being implemented or enforced.

What can I say instead of "to take effect"?

You can use alternatives like "to come into force", "to become operative", or "to be implemented" depending on the context.

How is "to take effect" used in a sentence?

You can use "to take effect" to indicate when a change, rule, or law will become active. For example: "The new policy is "set to take effect" next month".

Is there a difference between "to take effect" and "to go into effect"?

The phrases "to take effect" and "to go into effect" are largely interchangeable and carry the same meaning. The choice between them is often a matter of personal preference or stylistic variation.