Take steps means to take action to solve a problem or reach a goal. It's a neutral phrase you'll meet in the news, business letters and essays: take steps to reduce costs. The goal follows to + verb, not for. In the literal sense, walking a few steps, English also uses take: take a few steps.
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take steps to + verb; take steps towards + goal; take the necessary steps; take a few steps (literal)
- The company is taking steps to cut its energy bills this winter.
- Many cities have taken steps to make public transport cheaper for students.
- After the operation, she could only take a few steps without help.
What changed
First versionGovernments should take steps for reducing traffic in city centres.
RevisionGovernments should take steps to reduce traffic in city centres.
Steps are taken for a purpose, so for + -ing can look logical. But after take steps, the goal is introduced with to + verb: take steps to reduce. Only this part was changed.
Take measures means almost the same, but sounds more official and is more common in laws and instructions: take measures against fraud. Take action simply means to act, without focusing on individual steps: We need to take action now.
Your turn
To protect students' data, the university ___ steps, such as new passwords and regular checks.
Show the answer
took — Steps in the sense of action go with take: took steps. Made steps is not used in this meaning.
Write about a problem in your town or at work. Say what steps were taken or should be taken, and why.
Our office had too much paper waste, so we took steps to reduce it by printing only important documents.
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