a good start to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a good start to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that something is promising, with positive potential. For example, "This new project looks like a good start to a successful career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

She needs a good start to her serve.

Independent

And he had a good start to the election campaign.

Independent

Yeah, it's been a good start to the season.

The New York Times

It's been a good start to the year.

Independent

"It was a good start to our playoff run.

The New York Times - Sports

Not a good start to the season for the commissioner.

The New York Times - Sports

Not a good start to the holiday shopping season".

The New Yorker

That's a good start to creating a culture of preparedness.

The Guardian - Opinion

A good start to the half then for England.

The Guardian - Sport

So I think it's a good start to the festival".

The New York Times

Tasty, thrifty, and a good start to the trip.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a good start to", ensure that the context supports the idea of ongoing or future development. It's less appropriate for describing isolated events.

Common error

Avoid using "a good start to" when describing the end or conclusion of something. This phrase is best suited for initial phases or beginnings, not final outcomes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a good start to" functions as a modifier to describe the beginning of an event, process, or period. It often introduces a sense of optimism or potential for future success, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a good start to" is a versatile phrase used to positively describe the beginning of an event, project, or period. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts. As evidenced by Ludwig's analysis and examples, it is most frequently found in news and media sources, with significant presence in scientific and formal business writing as well. While semantically similar alternatives exist, "a good start to" remains a common and effective way to express approval and optimism regarding initial progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a promising beginning for

Focuses more on the potential for future success.

a solid foundation for

Emphasizes the establishment of a firm base.

an auspicious kickoff to

Implies a fortunate or favorable start.

a favorable opening for

Highlights the advantageous nature of the beginning.

a positive initiation to

Stresses the optimistic nature of the initial phase.

a successful launch of

Highlights a start that has already achieved some success.

an encouraging commencement of

Focuses on the hopeful aspect of the starting point.

a decent head start on

Highlights the advantage gained at the beginning.

a flying start toward

Implies a rapid and energetic beginning.

a kick-off

Short and simple alternative which means the beginning of an activity or event.

FAQs

How can I use "a good start to" in a sentence?

You can use "a good start to" to describe the beginning of an event, project, or relationship. For example, "The team's victory was "a good start to" the season".

What phrases are similar to "a good start to"?

Similar phrases include "promising beginning", "solid foundation", and "auspicious kickoff".

Is it correct to say "a good start at" instead of "a good start to"?

While "start at" is grammatically correct in other contexts, "a good start to" is the more common and idiomatic way to express a positive beginning of something.

What's the difference between "a good start to" and "a great start to"?

"A great start to" simply intensifies the positive aspect of the beginning, emphasizing a more impressive or remarkable initial phase compared to "a good start to".