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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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was taking to

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was taking to' is not correct in written English.
The correct phrase would be 'was talking to'. For example, "I was talking to my friend about the plans for our trip."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I was taking to it.

News & Media

The New York Times

The president also wanted to discuss efforts the government was taking to address threats.

News & Media

The New York Times

He described the steps his administration was taking to combat the effects of rising seas.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Officials said the sides had discussed measures Russia was taking to avoid further incidents.

News & Media

Independent

He had been fired for failing to disclose drugs he was taking to deal with infertility.

— Mr. Zuckerberg spoke with The Times about steps Facebook was taking to address users' anger.

News & Media

The New York Times

The scientists were increasingly angered at how long it was taking to fend them off.

News & Media

The Guardian

"We were all stunned by the fresh approach that Amy was taking to portraiture," Moss said.

The other day the train I was taking to Nanjing stopped suddenly.

News & Media

The New York Times

The department declined to say what efforts it was taking to recover the money.

News & Media

The New York Times

But she grew frustrated at the time it was taking to put it into action.

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "was taking to" in formal writing, as it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Consider contextually appropriate alternatives such as "was talking to", "was traveling to", or "was becoming accustomed to."

Common error

A common mistake is confusing "taking to" with "talking to". Remember that "taking to" isn't standard usage, whereas "talking to" implies a conversation or discussion with someone.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was taking to" is often grammatically incorrect and functions as a misinterpretation of other phrases like "was talking to" or phrases indicating movement. Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was taking to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests that a more appropriate phrase would be "was talking to" or other context-specific alternatives such as "was traveling to" or "was becoming accustomed to". The frequency of this phrase is rare, appearing mostly in news and media sources, which might indicate transcription errors or reporting of colloquial speech. When writing, avoid "was taking to" and choose a more grammatically sound and clear alternative to ensure effective communication.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "taking to" in a sentence?

The phrase "taking to" is often misused. The correct phrase you might be looking for is "talking to", which means conversing with someone.

What can I use instead of "was taking to" to indicate growing fondness?

If you want to express that someone is growing fond of something, consider using phrases like "was warming up to" or "was becoming accustomed to".

Is "was taking to" ever grammatically correct?

In most contexts, "was taking to" is not grammatically correct. Ensure you intended to use the phrase "talking to" or another similar alternative.

How does "was traveling to" differ from "was taking to"?

"Was traveling to" indicates movement towards a destination, whereas "was taking to" is likely a mistyping or misuse of "talking to". If referring to travel, use "was traveling to"; if referring to conversation, use "talking to".

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Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: