Started coming

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "started coming" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe the beginning of an event or activity, as in the example phrase, "The rain started coming down hard."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Started coming in new metal….

The New Yorker

They just started coming.

The Guardian - Sport

The tears started coming.

The New York Times - Sports

"Then they started coming.

The New Yorker

And these plays just started coming out.

The Economist

She started coming out of her shell.

The New York Times - Sports

I started coming in late to work.

The New Yorker

And the pieces started coming together".

The New York Times - Sports

People started coming earlier and earlier.

The New York Times

And then the boats started coming.

The New Yorker

That's when the hits started coming".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "started coming" to describe the initial phase of an event or arrival. For instance, "The first signs of spring started coming in March."

Common error

While "started coming" is acceptable, it can sound informal in certain contexts. Use more formal alternatives like "began to arrive" or "commenced approaching" in academic or professional writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "started coming" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of an action, specifically the act of arriving or approaching. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "started coming" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase to describe the commencement of an action or arrival. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While versatile, it is more suited for neutral or informal contexts, with alternatives available for more formal settings. As Ludwig examples show, it appears most frequently in news and media, indicating its broad applicability in everyday language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Began to arrive

Emphasizes the arrival aspect, replacing "coming" with "arrive".

Commenced arriving

More formal, uses "commenced" instead of "started" and "arriving" instead of "coming".

Began appearing

Highlights the act of becoming visible or noticeable.

Initiated approach

Focuses on the action of approaching, suitable for describing a process or movement.

Emerged

Concise way to say something began to come into existence or view.

Started to flow

Suggests a continuous movement or stream, replacing "coming" with "flow".

Started to gather

Suitable when describing people or things collecting in one place.

Began materializing

Implies something becoming real or concrete.

Began to form

Focuses on the initial stages of creation or development.

Began its advent

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying something began to arrive or appear.

FAQs

How can I use "started coming" in a sentence?

You can use "started coming" to describe the beginning of an action or arrival, such as "The ideas just "started coming" to me" or "The guests "started coming" early."

What are some alternatives to "started coming"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "began to arrive", "commenced arriving", or "initiated approach".

Is "started coming" grammatically correct?

Yes, "started coming" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It follows the standard verb tense structure.

When is it appropriate to use "started coming" versus more formal alternatives?

"Started coming" is suitable for informal and neutral contexts. In formal writing, consider using phrases like "began to arrive" or "commenced arriving" to maintain a higher level of formality.