took attendance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "took attendance" is correct and can be used in written English.
It usually implies that someone (usually a teacher or an authority figure) took note of who was present (or absent) in some kind of organized setting, like a school class or a meeting. For example: The teacher took attendance before beginning the lesson.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

When teachers took attendance, "people would burst out laughing.

The New Yorker

Two clerks at a large wooden desk announced the day's cases and took attendance.

The New Yorker

Nazhan called his fighters into formation, and the representative, clipboard in hand, took attendance.

The New Yorker

Students lingered at the pencil sharpener and fooled around as Ms. Moffett took attendance.

The New York Times

He took attendance, noting a few absences, before turning to a discussion about the German filmmaker Harun Farocki.

The New York Times - Books

Rachele Colantuono, an eighth-grade science teacher who is helping to run the class, took attendance and authorized bathroom breaks.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Or taking attendance.

The New York Times

How to take attendance.

The New York Times

We aren't taking attendance.

The New York Times

The point is to save time in taking attendance.

The New York Times

After quickly taking attendance, the teacher gets down to business.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "took attendance" when referring to a formal process of recording who is present, especially in educational or structured settings.

Common error

Avoid using "took attendance" interchangeably with phrases like "checked in" if the context involves a less formal or self-registered process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took attendance" functions as a verbal phrase, where "took" is the past tense of the verb "take" and "attendance" is a noun. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and implies that someone in a position of authority recorded who was present.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "took attendance" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression for recording presence in a formal or organized setting. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is appropriate across various contexts, particularly in news, academia, and professional environments. While alternatives like "called the roll" or "recorded presence" may be suitable depending on the specific context, "took attendance" remains a clear and widely understood way to describe this process. It's important to use this phrase when referring to a formal process rather than informal check-ins.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recorded presence

A general term for documenting who was there.

called the roll

Implies a more traditional method, often used in educational settings.

kept a record of attendance

Highlights the act of maintaining an attendance log.

marked presence

Focuses on recording presence rather than a comprehensive count.

logged attendees

Suggests a digital or automated method of recording attendance.

documented attendees

Similar to registered attendees but can also imply documenting more than just names.

registered attendees

More formal, suitable for conferences or official gatherings.

verified attendance

Implies checking or confirming attendance records.

checked participation

Emphasizes active involvement rather than mere presence.

noted absentees

Focuses on who was missing, rather than who was present.

FAQs

How do I use "took attendance" in a sentence?

You can say, "The teacher "took attendance" before starting the class" or "The secretary "took attendance" at the meeting."

What can I say instead of "took attendance"?

You can use alternatives like "called the roll", "registered attendees", or "recorded presence depending on the context".

Which is correct, "took attendance" or "did attendance"?

"Took attendance" is the correct and more commonly used phrase. "Did attendance" is not standard English.

What's the difference between "took attendance" and "marked present"?

"Took attendance" implies a comprehensive recording of all attendees, while "marked present" simply indicates that someone was noted as being there, without necessarily accounting for everyone else.