took away from

USAGE SUMMARY

"took away from" is an appropriate phrase to use in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone or something removing, subtracting, or diminishing something. For example: "The teacher took away points from the student's grade for the late assignment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It took away from me being bored.

The New York Times

They took away from his enjoyment, he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's about what they took away from us.

The New York Times

I asked him what he took away from the episode.

The New Yorker

The punishing routine took away from practice and family time.

The New York Times

"It was the jersey they took away from me.

The Guardian

That was what the world took away from Rodriguez's year.

The Guardian - Sport

"That's really what I took away from the second movie.

The New York Times

It took away from the real results of what happened.

The New York Times - Sports

"Look what I took away from a kid at the door," he said.

The New Yorker

John Pintard took away from prison a sense of civic obligation.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "took away from" when you want to express that something has diminished or detracted from something else. For instance, "The scandal took away from his reputation."

Common error

Avoid using "took away from" when you intend to say something contributed positively. Ensure the context clearly indicates a lessening or negative impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took away from" functions as a phrasal verb expressing a reduction or detraction from something. As supported by Ludwig, it indicates a diminishing effect, whether it be on enjoyment, focus, value, or another attribute.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Wiki

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "took away from" is a common and versatile phrasal verb used to express that something has diminished or detracted from something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical structure is correct and applicable in various contexts. It's important to use it when accurately reflecting a lessening or negative impact and not when suggesting a positive contribution. Related phrases like "detracted from" or "diminished" offer similar meanings, but it's crucial to choose the one that best fits the specific nuance you want to convey. "Took away from" appears most frequently in news and media sources, highlighting its broad applicability in contemporary writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

detracted from

Focuses on reducing the value or importance.

diminished

Emphasizes the lessening of something.

subtracted from

Highlights a direct removal or reduction.

lessened

Stresses making something smaller or fewer.

reduced

Indicates a decrease in size, amount, or degree.

detracted value from

Specifically targets the reduction of worth.

compromised

Implies a negative impact or impairment.

impaired

Signifies a weakening or damaging effect.

eroded

Suggests a gradual wearing away or diminishing.

undermined

Emphasizes a weakening or destabilizing effect.

FAQs

How can I use "took away from" in a sentence?

Use "took away from" to indicate that something has diminished or detracted from another thing. Example: "The rain took away from our enjoyment of the picnic".

What's the difference between "detracted from" and "took away from"?

"Detracted from" often implies a lessening of value or reputation, while "took away from" can refer to a broader range of diminishing effects, including enjoyment or focus.

What can I say instead of "took away from"?

Alternatives include "diminished", "reduced", or "lessened", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "took away from" in formal writing?

Yes, "took away from" is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, as long as it accurately reflects the intended meaning of diminishing or detracting from something.