was initially taken

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was initially taken" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that occurred at the beginning of a process or event, often in a historical or narrative context. Example: "The photograph was initially taken in 1995, capturing a moment that would later become iconic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Rux was initially taken aback.

The New York Times

Yadav was initially taken to a private hospital where doctors said her condition was too serious.

The Guardian

The telegraph was initially taken up mainly by railroads, financial institutions, and big companies.

The New Yorker

Mr. Olds recalled that he was initially taken aback by the more formal aesthetic among his peers.

The New York Times

With Anderson sitting out the morning session, the new ball was initially taken by Broad and Mark Footitt.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Lewandowski was initially taken aback, questioning the propriety of meeting a head of state without instructions from home.

The New York Times

The racing driver was initially taken by helicopter to the nearest hospital at Moûtiers before being transferred to Grenoble, which has a specialised trauma unit.

The Guardian - Sport

Tiffinee Armstrong, a co-coordinator of Enlightened ConNexTions, a book group in Raleigh, N.C., said she was initially taken aback when she learned that Ms. Stockett was white.

The New York Times - Books

The decision to allow Sutcliffe out was initially taken by the former home secretary David Blunkett, and was reaffirmed by his successor, Charles Clarke.

The Guardian

The victim of the second shooting was initially taken to St . Barnabasas well, but was later transferred to Montefiore, which has a large children's hospital, officials said.

The New York Times

This set of events occurs frequently in high latitudes and in locations remote from the ocean where the moisture was initially taken up.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was initially taken" to clearly indicate the first step or reaction in a sequence of events, especially when contrasting it with subsequent actions or developments.

Common error

Avoid using "was initially taken" when you simply mean "was taken". "Initially" should only be included if the 'taking' is contrasted with something that happened later. For example, say "The book was taken from the library", not "The book was initially taken from the library" unless you're going to add what happened afterward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was initially taken" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence received the action of being taken. Ludwig provides examples illustrating its use across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Wiki

19%

Science

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was initially taken" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that serves to indicate the first step in a process or a preliminary reaction. According to Ludwig, it's most commonly found in news and media, as well as wiki and science. Pay attention to the specific context to avoid redundancy and ensure the inclusion of "initially" adds meaningful information. Remember to contrast the initial action with subsequent developments to justify its use. The examples curated by Ludwig demonstrate its versatility and proper application across diverse writing styles and topics.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was originally taken

Replaces "initially" with "originally", emphasizing the starting point.

was first taken

Substitutes "initially" with "first", highlighting the sequence of events.

was primarily taken

Replaces "initially" with "primarily", suggesting the main focus at the beginning.

was at first taken

Adds "at first" for a more emphatic initial reaction or action.

was to begin with taken

Uses a more verbose phrasing to indicate the starting point.

was provisionally taken

Implies a temporary or conditional aspect to the initial action.

was temporarily taken

Highlights the temporary nature of the initial action.

was preliminarily taken

Indicates that it was taken as a first step.

was momentarily taken

Highlights the transient characteristic of the initial action.

was tentatively taken

Implies that the initial action was done with caution.

FAQs

How can I use "was initially taken" in a sentence?

Use "was initially taken" to indicate the first action or reaction in a series of events. For example, "The suspect "was initially taken" into custody, but later released" shows a sequence of actions.

What can I say instead of "was initially taken"?

You can use alternatives like "was originally taken", "was first taken", or "was primarily taken" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use "was initially taken"?

The phrase isn't inherently redundant. "Initially" specifies that something happened at the beginning. If the context implies a subsequent change or development, it's appropriate. If not, consider a simpler phrasing like "was taken".

What's the difference between "was initially taken" and "was finally taken"?

"Was initially taken" refers to the beginning of a process, while "was finally taken" refers to the end. For example, a bill might be "was initially taken" to a committee, then "was finally taken" to the floor for a vote.