took an example

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "took an example" is not correct in standard written English.
You might use it when trying to convey that you used a specific instance to illustrate a point, but the correct expression would be "took an example from" or "used an example." Example: "In my presentation, I took an example from recent research to support my argument."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Here, we took an example of let-7 family in Homo sapiens, which included several homologous members (Figure 3A).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Take an example of a good friend of mine.

The Guardian - Opinion

To take an example, Germany is a much better squad.

The Guardian - Sport

Take an example from a recent issue of Self magazine.

The New York Times - Magazine

Take an example from Lens, this newspaper's photography blog.

The New York Times - Science

"I'll take an example which our British friends will understand.

The Guardian

Take an example from "Travels With My Aunt".

The New York Times

"I'll take an example that our British friends will understand.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Take an example.

Forbes

Now, let us take an example.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Let us take an example for (1.1).

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for more common and grammatically correct alternatives such as "provided an example", "used an example", or "cited an example" to ensure clarity and professionalism in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "took an example" as it is not standard English. Instead, rephrase your sentence to use a more appropriate verb like "use", "provide", or "cite" to ensure grammatical correctness and avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took an example" functions as a verb phrase with a noun, where "took" is the past tense of "take", and "example" is the noun. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this construction is not considered standard English. It attempts to convey the action of selecting or using a specific instance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "took an example" is grammatically incorrect and rarely used in standard English. Ludwig AI flags this phrase as non-standard. While it attempts to convey the selection or use of a specific instance for illustration, it is best to avoid this phrase. Instead, opt for grammatically correct and more common alternatives like "provided an example", "used an example", or "cited an example" to ensure clarity and professionalism in your writing. These alternatives will more effectively serve the purpose of illustrating a point or argument and avoid any potential confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provided an example

Replaces the verb "took" with a more standard and direct verb, offering a more grammatically sound alternative.

used an example

Similar to "provided", it's a straightforward and grammatically correct way to say an example was employed.

cited an example

Implies the example was used as evidence or support, carrying a slightly more formal tone.

gave an example

Another common and clear alternative, emphasizing the act of presenting the example.

offered an example

Suggests presenting the example as a helpful illustration or clarification.

illustrated with an example

Highlights the use of the example to make something clearer or more understandable.

presented an instance

Uses a more formal term, "instance", instead of "example", suitable for academic or professional contexts.

pointed to an example

Emphasizes directing attention to a specific example, often to support an argument.

drew an example from

Highlights the source from which the example was taken, adding more context.

referred to an example

Suggests the example is already known or established, and is being brought up again for reference.

FAQs

What are some better ways to say "took an example"?

Instead of "took an example", you can use phrases like "provided an example", "used an example", or "cited an example", depending on the context.

Is "took an example" grammatically correct?

No, "took an example" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "gave an example" or "offered an example".

How can I use "example" correctly in a sentence?

To correctly use "example", you can say things like "I will provide an example", "Let's use an example to illustrate this", or "The author cites an example from history".

What's the difference between "took an example" and "used an example"?

"Took an example" is not a standard phrase, while "used an example" is a grammatically correct way to express that you employed a specific instance for illustration or support. Always prefer "used an example".