At the start of September

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "At the start of September" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the beginning of the month of September in various contexts, such as planning, scheduling, or describing events. Example: "We will launch the new product at the start of September to align with the back-to-school season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At the start of September, 35,000 families were on welfare.

The Economist

At the start of September, the I.N.S. caught dozens each day here.

The New York Times

(At the start of September, as detailed in a post by Sam Wang, the Democratic candidate withdrew from the race to give Orman a clear run).

The New Yorker

At the start of September, Seager was in the minors, now the Dodgers have made their top prospect their starting shortstop going into the postseason.

The Guardian - Sport

At the start of September, doctors at Kashmir's main hospital reported that on average, one person had their eyes ruptured by pellets every other hour since 9 July.

The Guardian

"At the start of September," said Reynolds, "a CHIP reauthorization was likely to be one of the top items on their agenda".

Vice

"At the start of September," said Reynolds, "a CHIP reauthorization was likely to be one of the top items on their agenda". And by most accounts it was.

Vice

Israel and the Palestinians began the direct talks at the start of September.

The New York Times

The latest figure given by Eric Schmidt, at the start of September, was 480m Android devices.

The Guardian - Tech

But at the start of September, this was suddenly and mysteriously postponed.

The Guardian - Arts

More than 200 "Nippers" – junior lifesavers aged as young as five – resume training at the start of September.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "At the start of September", ensure the context clearly indicates the year to avoid ambiguity, especially in long-term communications or reports.

Common error

Avoid assuming the audience knows the year you are referring to. If the year is not explicitly stated or easily inferred, include it for clarity. For example, instead of "The project will launch at the start of September", say "The project will launch at the start of September 2026".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "At the start of September" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event occurs. Ludwig examples show it setting temporal context in news, sports, and business reporting.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

20%

Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "At the start of September" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the beginning of September. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It is mostly used in news, sports and business contexts. While it is suitable for most registers, it is important to provide context (year) to avoid confusion. Consider alternative expressions like "in early September" for similar meanings. By avoiding assumptions and providing clear timelines, you can ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In early September

Emphasizes the early portion of the month without specifying an exact start.

The beginning of September

A more literal and straightforward synonym for the start of the month.

Early in September

Similar to "in early September", but with a slightly different word order.

Around September first

Focuses on the approximate date of September 1st.

As September began

Frames the timeframe as the commencement of September, implying a sequence of events.

When September commenced

A more formal way of saying "as September began."

With the arrival of September

Emphasizes the transition into the month of September.

At the inception of September

A more formal and less common synonym for "at the start of September".

During the initial days of September

Highlights the first few days of the month.

The first week of September

Refers to the entire first week, rather than just the beginning.

FAQs

What is the difference between "At the start of September" and "In September"?

"At the start of September" refers specifically to the beginning of the month, while "In September" refers to any time during the entire month.

Are there any alternatives to using "At the start of September"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "in early September", "the beginning of September", or "early in September".

How can I use "At the start of September" in a sentence?

You can use it to indicate when something begins or occurs near the beginning of the month. For example, "The new semester begins at the start of September".

Is it more formal to say "At the start of September" or "In early September"?

The difference in formality is minimal. Both phrases are suitable for most contexts, but "At the start of September" may be perceived as slightly more precise.