took an issue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "took an issue" is not correct in standard English; the correct expression is "took issue." You can use it when you want to express disagreement or objection to something.
Example: "She took issue with the decision made by the committee regarding the funding."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Bill Clinton championed changes to welfare and took an issue away from the opposition.

The New York Times

He took an issue that seemed dead, a party in disarray, and an administration on the defensive and rallied them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Only recently, a reader took an issue relating to the Radio 4 programme I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue to the BBC complaints department.

The Guardian

"When the new model was being dreamed up, we thought, What if we took an issue a week and created some educational piece on it, and then just e-mailed it out to all of our patients?

The New York Times - Magazine

The Final Seasons ECKHOUSE I felt for the first three years I was pleased with things, because it was always issue related: they took an issue and tried to hit it in a fairly head-on way.

The New York Times - Arts

I took an issue that I am passionate about and created a product that not only benefits me and my family but all of my loyal customers who are looking to lead healthier lifestyles as well.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Just take an issue like derivatives.

The New York Times

Take an issue that is guaranteed to affect your life: energy prices.

Independent

"Each one of these people would take an issue on his own responsibility.

The New York Times

"When we take an issue on, we really, really understand where we're going," said Joe Higgins.

The New York Times

"We had to take an issue we were passionate about, and raise awareness in our community," Ms. Vorva said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the correct idiomatic expression "took issue with" to convey disagreement or objection. For example: "She took issue with the proposed changes."

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "took an issue" as it's grammatically incorrect and can lead to confusion. Instead, use "took issue with" to express disagreement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took an issue" functions as a verb phrase where "took" is the past tense of "take", "an" is an article, and "issue" is a noun. However, this construction is not grammatically correct in standard English when intending to convey disagreement. Ludwig AI notes that the correct expression is "took issue".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "took an issue" appears in various sources, it's important to recognize that it is grammatically incorrect, according to Ludwig AI. The intended meaning is usually to express disagreement, which is correctly conveyed by the idiom "took issue with". When writing, it's best to avoid "took an issue" and instead use "took issue with", or alternatives like "disagreed with" or "objected to" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Using the proper expression will enhance the credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

took exception to

Emphasizes a strong disagreement or objection.

disagreed with

A more straightforward way to express disagreement.

challenged

Suggests a confrontation or questioning of something.

objected to

Formal way to express disapproval.

contested

Implies a formal dispute or challenge.

questioned

Suggests a mild form of disagreement or doubt.

debated

Implies a discussion or argument about a topic.

argued against

Emphasizes the act of presenting reasons against something.

addressed the issue

Focuses on dealing with a problem or topic rather than disagreeing.

raised concerns about

Highlights the expression of worries or doubts.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say someone disagreed with something?

The correct idiomatic expression is "took issue with". For example: "She took issue with the manager's decision."

Is "took an issue" grammatically correct?

No, "took an issue" is not grammatically correct. The proper expression is "took issue with".

What does "took issue with" mean?

"Took issue with" means to disagree with something and often express that disagreement.

What are some alternatives to saying "took issue with"?

Alternatives to "took issue with" include "disagreed with", "objected to", or "challenged", depending on the context.