took two weeks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "took two weeks" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the duration of time it took to complete a task or process. Example: "The project took two weeks to finish, but the results were worth the wait."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It took two weeks.

The New York Times

Construction took two weeks.

Independent

Mahut took two weeks off to recover.

The New York Times - Sports

Some of his took two weeks.

The New York Times - Arts

"I took two weeks off," she said.

The New York Times

It took two weeks to set up.

The New York Times - Tech

But it took two weeks to fully restore the system.

The New Yorker

It took two weeks to photograph the tapestries.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Installation took six weeks.

The Economist

This took six weeks.

The New York Times

"That took three weeks," said Gunther, grinning.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To avoid repetition, consider varying your language by using synonyms such as "fortnight" or specifying the duration in days (e.g., "lasted fourteen days") depending on your audience and desired level of formality.

Common error

Avoid using "took two weeks" when the duration is approximate. If the time frame is not exact, use phrases like "about two weeks" or "around two weeks" to indicate an estimate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took two weeks" functions as a duration descriptor, indicating the amount of time required for an action, event, or process to be completed. Ludwig AI identifies many examples where this phrase is used to specify a time frame.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Wiki

6%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "took two weeks" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate the duration of an event or process. As Ludwig AI points out, it is frequently used in news and media contexts to provide a clear timeframe. While versatile, it's best to use qualifiers like "about" or "approximately" when the duration is not exact. For more formal settings, alternatives like "required a fortnight" may be more suitable. This phrase's high frequency and neutral register make it a valuable tool in both casual and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

required a fortnight

Uses "fortnight" as a synonym for two weeks, adding a slightly more formal or British English tone.

lasted fourteen days

Replaces "two weeks" with its equivalent in days, emphasizing the exact duration.

extended for a fortnight

Emphasizes the duration of something for two weeks by using extended.

spanned a couple of weeks

Uses "a couple of weeks" which is a less precise but similar duration, implying approximately two weeks.

was a two-week process

Focuses on the activity as a process lasting two weeks, highlighting the duration of the activity.

entailed a two-week period

A more formal way of saying it involved a period of two weeks.

ran for fourteen days

Similar to lasted for fourteen days, focusing on the continuous duration.

covered a two-week span

Highlights the span of time that the activity or event encompassed.

went on for a fortnight

Uses "went on" to emphasize the continuous nature of the duration, with "fortnight" as a synonym for two weeks.

occupied fourteen days

Highlights that something utilized a period of fourteen days.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "took two weeks" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could say "required a fortnight" or "spanned a two-week period". The choice depends on the specific context and the desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "took two weeks" or "lasted fourteen days"?

Both are correct, but "lasted fourteen days" can sound more precise. "Took two weeks" is generally more common and natural in everyday conversation.

What's the difference between "took two weeks" and "took about two weeks"?

"Took two weeks" implies a precise duration, while "took about two weeks" suggests an approximate timeframe. Use "about" when you're estimating.

Are there alternatives to "took two weeks" that don't focus on completion?

Yes, you can use phrases like "for a fortnight" or "over a two-week period" to describe events that occur within that timeframe, rather than emphasizing how long something took to finish.