I started practicing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I started practicing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the beginning of an activity or skill development, typically in a personal context. Example: "I started practicing the piano last month, and I've already noticed significant improvement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

So I started practicing a fast way of articulating".

The New York Times - Arts

After reading a book about Buddhism in college, I started practicing Zen meditation.

The New York Times

"I started practicing with him since I was a kid," Jean said.

The New York Times - Sports

I could interact with Muslim students, and slowly I started practicing the religion.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I started practicing every day, and things worked pretty well until the kite would fall in the water.

The New Yorker

When I started practicing as a therapist 15 years ago, I thought complaints like this were anomalous.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

"When I started practice 24 years ago, if a 60-year-old walked into my office I'd assume they were lost," says George Branche III, an orthopedic surgeon with a sports medicine specialty in Arlington.

The Washington Post

How should I start practicing yoga?

The New York Times

Bloom: I have certainly had more people talk about their spiritual advisers and their spiritual counselors than I did when I first started practicing.

The New York Times - Magazine

When I first started practicing law, I represented the Illinois Education Association, whose members are teachers.

University of Chicago

When I was in high school, I really started practicing quite a bit, and today after this interview, I will being my three-hour practice session.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I started practicing" when you want to clearly and directly state that you have begun a specific activity or skill development. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid switching between past and present tenses when describing the duration of your practice. For example, instead of saying "I started practicing yoga last year, and now I go every day", maintain consistency by saying "I started practicing yoga last year, and I have been going every day since then".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I started practicing" functions as a statement of initiation of an activity or skill. As Ludwig AI shows, it's used to indicate the beginning of a regular action, often with the implication of continued effort.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I started practicing" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate the beginning of a regular activity or skill development. As shown by Ludwig AI, it is versatile and suitable for various contexts, including news, personal narratives, and even formal business communications. While alternatives like "I commenced practicing" or "I began practicing" can add formality, the original phrase remains a straightforward and effective way to convey the initiation of a practice. Remember to maintain consistency in verb tense and consider the specific nuance you wish to convey when choosing among related phrases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I commenced practicing

Replaces "started" with the more formal "commenced".

I began practicing

Uses "began" as a synonym for "started", offering a slightly different tone.

I have started practicing

Adds a sense of ongoing activity with the present perfect tense.

I've started practicing

Uses the contraction "I've" for a more casual tone.

I initiated practicing

Emphasizes the beginning or initiation of the practice.

I took up practicing

Suggests adopting a new practice or habit.

I set about practicing

Focuses on the action of beginning the practice with intent.

I resolved to practice

Implies a firm decision or resolution to start the practice.

I devoted myself to practicing

Highlights the commitment and dedication to the practice.

I applied myself to practicing

Emphasizes the effort and diligence put into starting the practice.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "I started practicing" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "I commenced practicing" or "I began practicing". These alternatives replace the more casual "started" with verbs that convey a slightly elevated level of formality.

Is it correct to say "I started to practice" instead of "I started practicing"?

Both "I started practicing" and "I started to practice" are grammatically correct. The former uses the gerund form of the verb, while the latter uses the infinitive form. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.

What's a more emphatic way to say "I started practicing"?

To emphasize your commitment, you could say "I devoted myself to practicing" or "I applied myself to practicing". These phrases highlight the dedication and effort involved in beginning the practice.

How does "I started practicing" differ from "I started practice"?

"I started practicing" implies the beginning of a continuous action or skill development, while "I started practice" suggests the commencement of a scheduled event or routine session of practice.