took effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "took effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used in the context of doing something difficult or requiring hard work. For example: "The project took a lot of effort, but we finally completed it!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Those took effort.

The New Yorker

It took effort and courage to get here, to get home, but she made it.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. McConnell said he and the speaker already knew that it took effort to hold Republicans together.

The New York Times

This took effort and it had nothing to do with efficiency, but it enabled people to elevate the gift of cash.

The New York Times

It apparently took effort for businesses in this line of work to displease, and only a dozen or so landed reviews harsh enough to scare people away.

The New York Times

It took effort, but I remembered many of my classmates who were present, or at least felt something very familiar about them.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

It takes effort.

The New York Times

It may take effort.

The Guardian - Opinion

It just takes effort.

The Guardian - Opinion

I eventually can, but it takes effort.

The New Yorker

Even that will take effort, of course.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "took effort" to clearly communicate that achieving something required significant work or energy. It effectively conveys the level of difficulty involved.

Common error

Avoid using "took effort" for tasks that are generally considered easy or routine. This can make your writing sound exaggerated or insincere. Reserve it for situations where genuine exertion was involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took effort" functions as a verbal phrase, typically used as part of a predicate to describe an action that required significant work or energy. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it often modifies a subject implying the need for invested energy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "took effort" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something required significant work or energy. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently used in various contexts, particularly in news and media and science. While there are several alternatives, such as "required exertion" or "demanded hard work", "took effort" provides a direct and clear way to convey the level of difficulty involved in a task. It's essential to avoid overuse in situations where the task is simple, to maintain the phrase's impact. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, science, and formal business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

required exertion

Focuses on the physical or mental energy needed.

demanded hard work

Emphasizes the necessity of labor and diligence.

necessitated dedication

Highlights the commitment and focus required.

involved a struggle

Suggests a challenging and difficult process.

called for commitment

Emphasizes the need for a pledge of time and energy.

required perseverance

Highlights the need for continued effort despite difficulties.

was a labor-intensive task

Specifically indicates a task that needed a great deal of work.

entailed significant energy

Focuses on the amount of energy that the action consumed.

was a challenging endeavor

Highlights the difficulty and complexity of the task.

demanded considerable input

Emphasizes that a lot of resources, time, or effort was needed.

FAQs

How can I use "took effort" in a sentence?

You can use "took effort" to describe tasks that demanded significant work. For example, "Completing the project took a lot of effort" or "It took effort to understand the complex instructions."

What are some alternatives to saying "took effort"?

Alternatives include "required exertion", "demanded hard work", or "necessitated dedication", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "took effort" or "required effort"?

"Took effort" and "required effort" are both correct, but "took effort" implies that the effort was already expended, whereas "required effort" suggests that effort is needed. The choice depends on whether the task is completed or ongoing.

What's the difference between "took effort" and "was difficult"?

"Took effort" specifically emphasizes the exertion and hard work invested, whereas "was difficult" focuses on the inherent challenge of the task. "Took effort" highlights the process and investment; "was difficult" highlights the inherent characteristic.