a dreadful start

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a dreadful start" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an unfortunate or negative beginning to an event, situation, or experience. Example: "The project had a dreadful start, with multiple delays and miscommunications from the very beginning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

10.46pm BST Mickelson's been battling away after a dreadful start.

The Guardian - Sport

Though there is time for him to catch up, he has made a dreadful start.

The Economist

POST-WAR reconstruction in Iraq is off to a dreadful start.

The Economist

After a dreadful start to the season, Massa has suddenly leaped into the championship fight.

The New York Times

And let's not forget about the team itself, which is off to a dreadful start this spring.

The New Yorker

IT HAS been a dreadful start of the year for Deutsche Telekom, and worse is to come.

The Economist

Wenger has taken Arsenal back into contention in the Premier League after a dreadful start to the season.

The New York Times

After a dreadful start, Guadalajara is in 12th place and needs all 9 points from its remaining matches.

The New York Times

This was a big victory given that they made a dreadful start, conceding twice in the opening 15 minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

But Mr. Pollin's Capitals got off to a dreadful start, even by the standards of expansion teams.

The New York Times - Sports

He duly delivered the victory the crowd had come to see, despite a dreadful start, and took his bow.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a dreadful start", consider specifying the area affected, such as "a dreadful start to the season" or "a dreadful start to the project", to provide more context for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "dreadful" excessively in the same sentence or paragraph. Variety in language can make your writing more engaging and prevent the word from losing its impact. For example, instead of saying "The team had a dreadful start, and the dreadful weather didn't help", try "The team had a dreadful start, and the inclement weather didn't help".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dreadful start" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as the subject or object of a verb. It describes the initial phase of an event or process, characterizing it as extremely negative or unfortunate, as evidenced by examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Sport

34%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a dreadful start" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a very negative beginning. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Sport, suggesting a neutral register. While alternatives like "a disastrous beginning" or "a rocky start" offer nuanced shades of meaning, "a dreadful start" effectively conveys disappointment or concern. To enhance clarity, specifying the affected area is recommended, and overusing "dreadful" should be avoided for better writing impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a disastrous beginning

Emphasizes the catastrophic nature of the beginning.

an awful commencement

Uses a more formal synonym for "start" while retaining the negative connotation.

a terrible kickoff

Replaces "start" with a more informal term, "kickoff", which implies initiation.

a poor opening

Uses a more general term, "opening", while keeping the negative sentiment.

a calamitous launch

Highlights the unfortunate and disastrous nature of the initial stage.

a rocky start

Indicates the beginning was difficult and unstable, differing from the severity implied by "dreadful".

an inauspicious outset

Suggests the beginning was unfavorable and unpromising.

a bad beginning

Offers a simpler, more direct way to express the negative start.

an unfortunate inception

Emphasizes the creation or establishment process having negative aspects.

a shaky initiation

Indicates the starting phase was insecure or unstable.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "a dreadful start"?

You can use alternatives like "a disastrous beginning", "an awful commencement", or "a terrible kickoff" depending on the context.

How to use "a dreadful start" in a sentence?

You can use "a dreadful start" to describe a negative beginning of an event, season, or project. For example, "The team had a dreadful start to the season, losing their first five games."

What's the difference between "a dreadful start" and "a rocky start"?

"A dreadful start" implies a terrible and unfortunate beginning, while "a rocky start" suggests a difficult and unstable beginning but not necessarily as severe.

Is "a dreadful start" formal or informal?

"A dreadful start" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "an inauspicious outset" may be preferred in academic or professional writing.