took time away

USAGE SUMMARY

"took time away" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to an action that caused someone to have less time for something. For example: "The extra work the boss assigned me this week took time away from my family time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It took time away from him".

The New Yorker

Experiment(s) took time away from the lecture or course work.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Each of these events was, strictly speaking, unexpected, and each took time away from my work.

The New Yorker

But in fact, fiddling with my TypePad blog's appearance took time away from actually communicating.

MIT Technology Review

But worrying about who might see what took time away from tweeting at full tilt.

The New York Times - Tech

Ms. Bartsch took time away from her nocturnal work schedule to raise him in his youngest years.

The New York Times

We took time away, worked on our projects, commiserated with our friends, then got back to it".

The Guardian - Tech

His children were barred from flying kites, which the Taliban said took time away from studying the Koran.

The New York Times

Stone and Holmes both work and train at Princeton, though both took time away from fencing in August, focusing on fitness and cross-training instead.

Princeton University

In 1862 Walker took time away from Washington to earn a degree from the New York Hygeio-Therapeutic College in New York City.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In 2003 Slutskaya took time away from the rink to care for her ailing mother, a kidney transplant candidate who had to undergo dialysis three times a week.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "took time away" to clearly indicate a period of absence or a reduction in time spent on a particular activity due to other commitments. Be sure the context makes it clear what the time was taken away from and what it was allocated to instead.

Common error

Avoid using "took time away" when you simply mean someone reduced their involvement or interest in something. The phrase implies a deliberate choice to spend less time on something due to other obligations or priorities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took time away" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating a deliberate action of reducing time allocated to a particular activity or responsibility. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, suggesting it effectively communicates a shift in priorities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "took time away" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe a reduction in time spent on a particular activity due to other commitments. As verified by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for a wide range of contexts. Its usage is particularly prevalent in news and media, followed by academia and formal business settings. The phrase conveys a sense of deliberate choice and prioritization, distinguishing it from similar phrases like "took time off", which typically refers to vacation or breaks. To ensure clarity, always specify what the time was taken away from. Remember to choose alternatives like "stepped away from" or "dedicated time to" carefully to maintain the intended meaning. The phrase's prevalence across authoritative sources underscores its reliability and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

took a break from

Emphasizes a temporary cessation of activity.

stepped away from

Suggests a temporary or permanent departure from something.

devoted time to

Highlights the allocation of time to a specific activity.

dedicated time to

Similar to 'devoted time to', but with a stronger emphasis on commitment.

allocated time for

Focuses on setting aside specific periods for something.

set aside time for

Focuses on the act of intentionally reserving time.

ceased activity for

More formal and emphasizes the stopping of an activity to do something else.

suspended activity for

A more formal way of saying 'stopped activity for'.

interrupted work for

Highlights that work was interrupted to accommodate something else.

paused efforts for

Implies a temporary halt in ongoing efforts.

FAQs

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

You can use "took time away" to describe a situation where someone reduced the amount of time spent on an activity. For example, "She "took time away" from her job to care for her family".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "took time away"?

Alternatives to "took time away" include phrases such as "took a break from", "stepped away from", or "dedicated time to", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "had time away" instead of "took time away"?

While "had time away" is grammatically correct, it has a slightly different connotation. "Took time away" implies a deliberate decision to reduce time spent on something, whereas "had time away" simply indicates a period of absence or vacation.

What's the difference between "took time off" and "took time away"?

"Took time off" generally refers to taking a break or vacation from work or other responsibilities. "Took time away" is broader and can refer to reducing time spent on any activity, not just work.