I started to interrupt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I started to interrupt" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a moment when you began to speak or interject during a conversation or discussion. Example: "As the speaker continued, I started to interrupt, but I hesitated, not wanting to be rude."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I started to interrupt.

The New Yorker

I started to interrupt to ask another question.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Ideas started to interrupt my dreams, and while awake I shamelessly scribbled quips that fell from friends' mouths.

The New York Times

The Argentine people first began to know that the situation was serious when the communiques started to interrupt television coverage of the World Cup.

The Guardian

Mr. Schumer started to interrupt but retreated after getting what one witness described as "a warning glance" from Mr. Daschle, who was already there.

The New York Times

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C ., who voted foR-N.C .'s bill but opposed the Democratic plan, started to interrupt him and Romney snapped back, according to one of the people who attended the lunch and another person familiar with it.

The Washington Post

So women started to interrupt public events to talk about their right to vote.

BBC

But, added Wallace, Mr Clegg was forced to abandon this tactic half way through, when it became clear Mr Farage was winning, and started to interrupt the UKIP man more often, allowing him to claim back some ground.

BBC

On Monday morning, she called me, and when I started to chat, she interrupted me by saying: "Listen.

The New York Times

At one point, I started to speak, but Biden interrupted.

The New Yorker

"I don't usually jump the line," I started to explain, when he interrupted me.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I started to interrupt" to clearly indicate the beginning of an interruption, often followed by an explanation or the interrupted statement.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "I started to interrupt". Vary your language with alternatives like "I was about to say", or "I began to add" for smoother writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I started to interrupt" functions as an intransitive verb phrase describing the commencement of an action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. It indicates the beginning of an interruption, as seen in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I started to interrupt" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate the beginning of an interruption. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts. While the phrase is useful, consider using alternative expressions like "I was about to interrupt" for variety. When using this phrase, remember to consider the context and be mindful of politeness. Overusing the phrase should be avoided for smoother writing and to avoid any monotony.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was about to interrupt

Indicates an intention to interrupt that may or may not have been acted upon; emphasizes imminence.

I began to interrupt

A more formal alternative using "began" instead of "started".

I was going to interrupt

Suggests an intention to interrupt, but the action might have been abandoned.

I almost interrupted

Highlights that the interruption was nearly made, but didn't fully occur.

I prepared to interrupt

Focuses on the preparation or mental readiness to interrupt.

I opened my mouth to interrupt

Emphasizes the physical action of beginning to speak in order to interrupt.

I was on the verge of interrupting

Indicates being very close to interrupting, emphasizing the near occurrence.

I felt compelled to interrupt

Highlights a sense of obligation or necessity to interrupt.

I had started to cut in

Uses the phrasal verb "cut in" to mean interrupt, adding a slightly more informal tone.

I was just about to interject

Uses "interject" as a synonym for interrupt, often implying a brief remark.

FAQs

What does "I started to interrupt" mean?

The phrase "I started to interrupt" indicates that you began the action of interrupting someone who was speaking. It implies that the interruption may or may not have been completed.

What can I say instead of "I started to interrupt"?

You can use alternatives like "I was about to interrupt", "I began to interrupt", or "I was going to interrupt" depending on the context.

Is it rude to say "I started to interrupt"?

The politeness depends on the context and your tone. Acknowledging that you were interrupting can be a way to show awareness of potentially being impolite. You can soften it by adding an apology or explanation.

What's the difference between "I started to interrupt" and "I interrupted"?

"I started to interrupt" implies that the interruption may not have been fully carried out. "I interrupted" means the action of interrupting was completed. The first suggests an intention, while the second states a completed action.