turned to take

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "turned to take" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a physical action of turning in order to grasp or receive something. Example: "She turned to take the book from the shelf."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

At the top lift station we dismounted briskly and turned to take in the view.

Independent

Lamar Odom, the former Queens schoolboy star, turned to take the ball out of bounds.

The New York Times - Sports

I turned to take a final look at the observatory and in the distance I could see the President of Sark's bicycle light, bobbing alongside a hedgerow.

Independent

Wayne Phillips cut a ball from spinner Phil Edmonds that hit Allan Lamb's boot as he turned to take evasive action.

The Guardian - Sport

I took a picture of him and I turned to take a picture of another officer... and next thing I know I'm get tackled from behind".

The Guardian

"Yes," she said as she turned to take her place at Table 41 in the tent in Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The conversation turns To take it in.

The Guardian

The legislators' turn to take the floor begins on Tuesday.

The New York Times

No one will call it ugly, but no one will turn to take a look either.

The New York Times

We turn to take advantage of the theory of maximum principle developed by Pontryagin [42] to derive an optimal solution or a Nash equilibrium solution to ℙ2.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

There are some new controls as well, including turning to take or reject calls, snooze and dismiss alarms.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "turned to take" to clearly describe a physical action where someone rotates their body or head in order to grasp, receive, or photograph something. It's especially effective when the direction of the turn is relevant to the narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "turned to take" when a simple 'took' or 'turned and took' would suffice. The phrase is most effective when emphasizing the act of turning as a deliberate prelude to taking something, not just the act of taking itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "turned to take" functions as a compound verb phrase, indicating a sequence of actions: first, the act of turning, followed by the act of taking something. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it clearly depicts a physical action involving movement and intention.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "turned to take" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to describe a physical action involving rotation followed by grasping or receiving something. According to Ludwig, it functions as a compound verb phrase, emphasizing the deliberate nature of the turning motion. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various writing styles. The examples and analysis provided by Ludwig confirm its proper usage and contextual relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turned to get

A simpler and more direct way of saying "turned to take", focusing on the act of obtaining something.

swiveled to grab

Emphasizes a quicker, more abrupt turning motion specifically to seize something.

rotated to grasp

Suggests a more deliberate and controlled turning motion to hold something.

swung around to pick up

Implies a rapid, sweeping turn to retrieve something.

wheeled to seize

Implies a turning motion on wheels or a pivoting action to capture something quickly.

faced to accept

Highlights the act of turning to directly receive or acknowledge something.

shifted to receive

Indicates a subtle change in position to be in a better position to get something.

looked to acquire

Suggests turning one's gaze or attention towards something with the intention of gaining possession of it.

glanced back to retrieve

Suggests a quick look over the shoulder followed by an action to recover something.

twisted to collect

Implies turning the body in a contorted way to gather or accumulate something.

FAQs

How can I use "turned to take" in a sentence?

The phrase "turned to take" is used to describe the action of someone rotating their body or head in order to reach for, grasp, or photograph something. For example, "She turned to take the book from the shelf".

What are some alternatives to "turned to take"?

Alternatives include "turned to get", "swiveled to grab", or "rotated to grasp", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to include "turned" when describing taking something?

No, using "turned" is only necessary when the act of turning is significant to the action. If the turning motion is irrelevant, a simpler verb like "took" is sufficient.

What's the difference between "turned to take" and "reached for"?

"Turned to take" implies a rotation of the body or head before taking, while "reached for" simply means extending an arm or hand towards something. The former emphasizes the change in orientation, while the latter focuses on the extension of a limb.