took an assignment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "took an assignment" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to accepting or beginning a specific task or project, often in a professional or academic context. Example: "After reviewing the project details, she took an assignment that required her expertise in marketing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

In the summer of 1960, Norman Mailer took an assignment to cover the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles.

The New Yorker

After a couple of jobs in retail, she took an assignment as a customer service representative at a furniture company.

The New York Times

A Nashville resident, Patchett is setting her next book in the Amazon and took an assignment from Gourmet (R.I.P). to prepare for it.

The New York Times

By David Remnick In the summer of 1960, Norman Mailer took an assignment to cover the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles.

The New Yorker

He took an assignment for CBS in Bonn in 1977, and left the network three years later to become bureau chief for ABC News in Bonn.

The New York Times

Later that year, as the political situation in Ethiopia worsened, Miss Weiser moved back to New York, and Mr. Macdonell took an assignment in French Guiana.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

He rarely takes an assignment that does not include a dinner of 5 courses, 2 wines, & free Upmanns No. 30.

The New Yorker

Upon turning sixty-five, when asked to take an assignment, Friedlander answered, "I retired from everything except work".

The New Yorker

That meant that Jarrett Balfour, an employee of a civilian military contractor, had no choice but to take an assignment in Iraq.

The Washington Post

Mr. Penn observed the rebelliousness of the '60s with a curious eye, even taking an assignment from Look magazine to photograph the "summer of love" scene in San Francisco.

The New York Times

I've learned that you have to be willing to take an assignment that is less glamorous than you would like, and to make something out of it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "took an assignment" when you want to emphasize the act of accepting and starting a particular task or project. For instance, "She "took an assignment" to analyze market trends."

Common error

Avoid using "took an assignment" for ongoing responsibilities. It's better suited for specific, defined tasks rather than general duties. For example, don't say "He "took an assignment" of managing the department", instead, consider "He was assigned to manage the department."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took an assignment" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of a specific task or project. It uses the past tense of the verb 'take' to describe the action of accepting and starting an assignment. Ludwig AI highlights this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "took an assignment" is a grammatically sound expression used to denote the acceptance and commencement of a specific task. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and examples demonstrate its usage across diverse fields such as news, media, wiki articles and academia. While the phrase is more common in neutral contexts, it’s important to consider alternatives like "undertook a project" or "accepted a task" to best suit the specific nuance you wish to convey. Pay attention to the scope of the assignment to avoid overgeneralization. The phrase's straightforward nature makes it a versatile choice for many writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accepted a task

Focuses on the acceptance aspect rather than the commencement of the assignment.

undertook a project

Emphasizes the commitment to a larger, more defined undertaking.

assumed responsibility

Highlights the responsibility aspect, indicating taking on a duty.

embarked on a mission

Suggests a more purposeful and directed undertaking.

tackled a job

Implies dealing with a specific piece of work, often implying difficulty.

received a commission

Describes getting formally assigned a task or project.

volunteered for duty

Indicates a voluntary acceptance of a task or role.

signed up for detail

Suggests enlisting for a specific, often temporary, task.

embraced a role

Highlights the full acceptance and integration into a task or position.

enlisted for service

Relates to formally joining or committing to a service or task.

FAQs

What does "took an assignment" mean?

The phrase "took an assignment" means that someone accepted and began working on a specific task or project, often in a professional or academic setting. It implies the undertaking of a defined responsibility.

How can I use "took an assignment" in a sentence?

You can use "took an assignment" to describe someone's acceptance of a task. For example, "The journalist "took an assignment" to cover the political rally".

Which is correct: "took an assignment" or "accepted an assignment"?

Both phrases are correct, but "took an assignment" implies the action of starting the work, whereas "accepted an assignment" emphasizes the agreement to do it. Consider using "accepted a task" if you want to focus on the agreement.

What are some alternatives to "took an assignment"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "undertook a project", "assumed responsibility", or "embarked on a mission" as alternatives to "took an assignment".