took us two

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "took us two" is not complete and lacks context, making it unclear in written English.
It could be used in a context where you are referring to a duration or a number of attempts, but it needs additional information to be fully understandable. Example: "It took us two hours to finish the project."

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

It took us two days.

The New Yorker

The descent took us two days.

The New York Times - Travel

It took us two or three days".

The New York Times

It took us two tries to get across the border.

Independent

"It took us two weeks to read it through once.

Independent

It took us two days just to get here.

The New York Times

It took us two or three days to finesse it.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

They are doing in India in a few decades what took us two hundred years.

The New Yorker

It took us three years.

The Economist

It took us four years.

The Guardian - Travel

It took us three minutes".

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "took us two", ensure the context clearly indicates what "two" refers to (e.g., days, hours, attempts) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "took us two" without specifying the unit of measurement (days, hours, attempts). Without clear context, the phrase becomes vague and confusing for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took us two" typically functions as part of a clause expressing the duration or effort required to complete an action or reach a destination. The examples from Ludwig show it used to indicate time (days, hours) or attempts. The phrase needs further context to be fully meaningful.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "took us two" is commonly used to express the duration, number of attempts or effort required to complete something. Ludwig AI indicates that it is widely used across diverse fields like News & Media, Formal & Business etc. While generally acceptable, it's essential to provide clear context to what the "two" refers (days, hours, people) to prevent ambiguity and enhance clarity. By following these guidelines, you can effectively use "took us two" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lasted a couple of days for us

Specifically refers to the duration of an event or activity.

demanded a couple of days from us

Highlights the imposition or requirement of time.

we spent two on

Emphasizes the expenditure of time or resources.

consumed a pair of days for us

Highlights the amount of time that was used or taken up.

required two of us

Focuses on the number of people involved rather than the time elapsed.

we allocated two units of time

Emphasizes the planned distribution of time.

necessitated two of our attempts

Emphasizes the need for multiple tries to succeed.

we needed two to complete

Indicates the quantity or number that was essential.

needed two attempts by us

Focuses on the attempts made by 'us'.

involved two of us

Highlights the engagement of two individuals.

FAQs

How can I specify the unit of time when using "took us two"?

Always clarify what "two" refers to by adding the unit of time, like "It "took us two days"", "It "took us two hours"", or "It "took us two attempts"".

What is a more formal way to say "took us two"?

In more formal writing, consider using phrases like "It "required two days of us"" or "We "spent two days"" to convey the same meaning with greater precision.

Can "took us two" refer to people instead of time?

While less common, "took us two" can refer to the number of people needed for a task. For example, "It "took us two people" to lift the heavy box."

Is it grammatically correct to use "took us two" on its own?

The phrase is often elliptical, meaning it relies on context for complete understanding. While common, providing the missing information makes your writing clearer. For example: "The journey "took us two days"" is better than just "took us two".