I started to participate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I started to participate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the beginning of your involvement in an activity, event, or discussion. Example: "After a few weeks of observation, I started to participate in the group discussions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I started to participate in various chats, but, as Meenoo did with English teachers, noticed that there wasn't one that was dedicated to history or social studies teachers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Arriving at CERN in the summer 1995, I was not at all clear about what my thesis topic would be, so I simply started to participate in an ongoing test of a detector prototype in order to gain an understanding of the problems to be solved.

Science Magazine

Yet, NGOs started to participate in higher-level political activities and to construct NGOs' participation legitimacy during the process.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

"Researchers who have already started to participate in the competition for this funding will face serious problems.

Science Magazine

"Politics has never interested us, but it is time we started to participate," Luis Orozco says.

Los Angeles Times

Hill started to participate in climbing competitions in the mid-1980s, but one of her first significant accomplishments was in 1979.

Wikipedia

But soon the boy started to participate actively in the workshops and is now being trained as a leader.

Unicef

"I only care that people start to participate in the politics of Egypt, to defend their interests and to have the awareness to organize themselves," he said.

The New York Times

She ventured that Polyvore might start to participate more directly in e-commerce.

The New Yorker

He said he didn't start to participate in horse shows until he was 16.

The New York Times

"The really interesting thing about the network today is that individuals are starting to participate.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I started to participate" when you want to emphasize the beginning of your involvement in something. Ensure that the context clearly indicates what you began participating in.

Common error

Avoid using "I started to participate" without specifying the activity or event. Be clear about where you began to participate to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I started to participate" functions as an intransitive verb phrase, indicating the initiation of one's involvement in an activity or event. Ludwig provides several examples demonstrating its use in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I started to participate" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate the beginning of one's involvement in an activity. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is generally used in neutral contexts across various fields such as News & Media, Science, and Business. Related phrases include "I began to engage" and "I took part in". Remember to specify the activity to avoid vague statements. It is important to note that while the phrase is valid,

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I began to engage

Replaces "started" with "began" and "participate" with "engage", offering a slightly more formal tone.

I took part in

Uses a more idiomatic expression to convey participation.

I got involved in

Indicates a deeper level of participation and commitment.

I joined in

Suggests participating as part of a group or activity.

I commenced participating

Replaces "started" with "commenced", creating a more formal tone.

I became a participant in

Shifts the focus to the role of being a participant.

I contributed to

Emphasizes the act of making a contribution through participation.

I threw myself into

Implies energetic and enthusiastic participation.

I entered into

Suggests entering an activity or discussion.

I played a role in

Highlights the specific contribution or function within the activity.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "I started to participate"?

You can use alternatives like "I began to engage", "I took part in", or "I got involved in" depending on the context.

How do I use "I started to participate" in a sentence?

Ensure that the sentence clearly indicates the activity or event you began participating in. For example, "I started to participate in the weekly meetings after observing for a month."

Is "I began to participate" more formal than "I started to participate"?

Yes, "I began to participate" is generally considered more formal than "I started to participate". You might choose it for professional or academic writing.

What's the difference between "I started participating" and "I started to participate"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "I started participating" is often considered more concise and common. "I started to participate" can sometimes emphasize the initiation of the action.