took paperwork

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "took paperwork" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of handling or processing documents or forms in a specific context, such as a job or administrative task. Example: "After the meeting, she took the paperwork to the filing cabinet to organize it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"The police took paperwork and money.

The Guardian

Chinese officials who took paperwork for Chen and his family to fill out on Wednesday at the hospital said the processing time for passports was up to 15 days, Chen said.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

I used to take paperwork home in a shopping cart and stay up until 3 a.m.

The New York Times

Why is standing limited to 4 hours?" Hemingway, too, wrote standing up: real men don't take paperwork sitting down.

The New York Times - Books

This placed an additional burden on the GPs not on triage duty, who then had to work extra sessions or take paperwork home.

BMC Family Practice

He said: "A political figure took my paperwork.

The New York Times

The man at the counter took my paperwork, quickly processed me in the system and walked me back to the testing room where two women dressed in scrubs were waiting for me.

TechCrunch

(My personal aside, it probably took more paperwork to get funding for one employee at an art institution than to transfer billions to Goldman Sachs from the Fed via AIG).

Huffington Post

"I'll take your paperwork and your driver's license," said the judge, Michael Maceira.

The New York Times

They will take the paperwork from you – remember to take all three copies.

The Guardian - Money

Companies like his also take the paperwork load off of doctors' clerical workers, he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To avoid monotony, consider using synonyms like "received documents" or "collected the forms" to add variety to your writing.

Common error

Avoid constructions that obscure who "took" the paperwork. Instead of saying "The paperwork was taken", specify who performed the action for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took paperwork" functions primarily as a verb phrase where "took" is the past tense of the verb "take" and "paperwork" is the noun acting as the direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "took paperwork" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe the act of receiving and handling documents. As Ludwig AI confirms, it fits seamlessly in various contexts, particularly in news media and general writing. While versatile, it's essential to consider the context's formality, opting for synonyms like "received documents" in more professional settings. Proper usage involves ensuring clarity about who performed the action and avoiding overuse of the passive voice. Remember, clarity and context are key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received documents

Focuses on the reception rather than the action of taking.

accepted forms

Emphasizes acceptance and legitimacy.

handled the documents

Highlights the process of managing paperwork.

processed documents

Focuses on the systematic treatment of the paperwork.

collected the forms

Emphasizes the act of gathering paperwork.

obtained documents

Highlights the acquisition of the documents.

secured the paperwork

Implies making sure the documents are safe or available.

retrieved the paperwork

Emphasizes getting the paperwork back from a storage location.

picked up the paperwork

Informal way of saying the paperwork was collected.

gathered the documents

Focuses on bringing the documents together.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "took paperwork" to sound more formal?

To sound more formal, you can use phrases like "received documents" or "accepted forms", which convey a similar meaning but with a more professional tone.

What's a simpler way to say "took paperwork"?

Simpler alternatives include "picked up the paperwork" or "collected the forms", which are less formal and easier to understand.

Is there a difference between "took paperwork" and "handled paperwork"?

"Took paperwork" implies receiving the documents, while "handled paperwork" suggests managing or processing them. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the act of receiving or the act of managing.

Can I use "obtained paperwork" instead of "took paperwork"?

Yes, "obtained paperwork" is a suitable alternative when emphasizing the acquisition of the documents, particularly if there was some effort involved in getting them.