by Jennie Ruby
Many speakers of English reverse the usage of these two words. Most of the time the error is in using bring when take should be used.
*When you go on your solo flight, are you going to bring [should say take]that good luck charm with you?*
A quick look at the definitions of take in Webster's reveals half a page of definitions from the verb for "get into one's hands" to the noun for "something that is taken." Much information, but not much enlightenment. A look at bring is a little more helpful: "to convey, lead, carry, or cause to come along with one toward the place from which the action is being regarded." That definition and a book on usage confirm what I had the good fortune to learn correctly by ear: You take something when you are going away from the person or location where the sentence is said. You bring something toward the person or location where the sentence is said. In addition, you sometimes bring something when the person who says the sentence is accompanying you to a new location.
Here are some correct examples:
- When you come to the class, please bring your book with you. [You are coming toward the speaker, who will be waiting at the classroom.]
- When you leave, please take your certificate with you. [You are going to be moving away from the speaker.]
If you are taking the item to a named location away from where you are now, always use take:
- Let's take the cake to grandma's house when we go.
It can sometimes be correct to say bring when you are traveling with someone and the item will be with you during the trip:
- When we go to grandma's, let's bring the DVD player along with us to watch during the car ride. [But not *Let's bring the DVD player to grandma's house*, because the destination is named.]
Hope this helps clear up those little grammar issues when you are packing for your next trip.
About the Author: Jennie Ruby is a veteran IconLogic trainer and author with titles such as "Essentials of Access 2000" and "Editing with MS Word 2003 and Adobe Acrobat 7" to her credit. Jennie specializes in electronic editing. At the American Psychological Association, she was manager of electronic publishing and manager of technical editing and journal production. Jennie has an M.A. from George Washington University and is a Certified Technical Trainer (Chauncey Group). She is a publishing professional with 20 years of experience in writing, editing and desktop publishing.
Want help with a grammar issue? Email us your troubles and we'll turn Jennie loose!
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