a negative start

USAGE SUMMARY

'a negative start' is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to describe a situation or experience you are about to discuss which began with some form of failure or difficulty. For example, "The project had a negative start, but eventually our hard work paid off and it was a great success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It came off its best levels, however, after a negative start on Wall Street as investors cashed in some of their recent gains.

The Guardian - Business

That disappointed investors for many reasons, but perhaps most troubling was the January curse: studies have shown that a negative start to the year often gives way to bear markets, steep corrections or flat performance.

The New York Times

Yiannis Mouzakis (@YiannisMouzakis) "Never in the field of government bailouts have so many lost so much credibility over such a small sum of money" on.wsj.com/10S3HYC April 12 , 20138.39am BST Market update The FTSE got off to a negative start this morning, down 20.31 points or 0.3% at 6395.

The Guardian - Business

Thursday saw a negative start to Wall Street trading, as financial stocks continued to drag on the broader market, even after Lehman Brothers beat earnings expectations.

Forbes

By Goal.com Rafael Benitez's reign at Chelsea got off to a negative start ahead of Sunday's clash with Manchester City, with the new manager being booed by the crowd at Stamford Bridge before a ball had even been kicked.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

So after a slightly negative start, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has moved into positive territory and is currently around 5 points higher.

The Guardian - Business

A FP is a bin labeled as predicted and as a negative gene start.

Bioinformatics

A TN is a bin not labeled as predicted and labeled as a negative gene start.

Bioinformatics

"So this thing with a negative stigma started to change to something smarter and cooler-looking, taking on this idea that you could want people to see this".

The New York Times

As expected from the small AL variations for events A E, there were no great changes in the high-latitude magnetic fields until ∼1435 UT (indicated by a vertical dashed line), when a negative perturbation started in the H component at TIX and KTN.

Earth, Planets and Space

Most sprinters spring out of the blocks with their fastest time and slow down as the race progresses, but Pistorius ran a "negative split," starting slowly and building up speed in the last half of the race (though he no longer uses this pattern).

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a negative start", consider clarifying the specific reasons for the negative beginning to provide more context and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a negative start" without providing specific details. Overgeneralizing can weaken your message and leave the reader without a clear understanding of the initial problem.

Linguistic Context

"A negative start" functions as a noun phrase that describes the initial state of a situation or event. It indicates that the beginning was unfavorable or problematic. As Ludwig AI shows, it's used in various contexts to set the stage for discussing challenges or setbacks.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a negative start" is a noun phrase used to describe an unfavorable beginning. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and applicable across various contexts, though it's most common in news and science publications. When using this phrase, ensure you provide specific details about the nature of the negative beginning to enhance clarity and impact. Consider alternatives like "an inauspicious beginning" or "a rocky commencement" for nuanced expression. Being mindful of these aspects will allow to use "a negative start" more effectively in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a bad beginning

Uses a simpler and more direct term ("bad") instead of "negative".

an inauspicious beginning

Replaces "negative" with "inauspicious" to emphasize a less favorable or promising start.

a rocky commencement

Replaces "start" with "commencement" and "negative" with "rocky", indicating difficulties from the beginning.

a poor launch

Uses "launch" instead of "start" and "poor" instead of "negative", implying a deficient or unsuccessful initiation.

a difficult inception

Replaces "start" with "inception" and "negative" with "difficult", highlighting challenges from the outset.

an unfavorable kickoff

Substitutes "start" with "kickoff", suggesting an initial action or event with negative implications.

a worrying genesis

Substitutes "start" with "genesis" and "negative" with "worrying", emphasizing concerns about the origin or beginning.

a disadvantageous jump

Replaces "start" with "jump" and "negative" with "disadvantageous", indicating an initial setback or unfavorable position.

an unpromising dawn

Uses metaphorical language to convey a negative beginning, associating it with an unpromising start.

an unfortunate head start

The phrase is self-contradictory, making a pun out of the words unfortunate head start.

FAQs

How can I use "a negative start" in a sentence?

You can use "a negative start" to describe situations where something began poorly. For example, "Despite "a negative start", the project eventually became a success".

What are some alternatives to saying "a negative start"?

Alternatives include "an inauspicious beginning", "a bad beginning", or "a rocky commencement", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "a negative start" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, consider stronger or more specific language in formal contexts. For instance, instead of "a negative start", you might say "an initially problematic phase" or "a period of unfavorable circumstances".

What's the difference between "a negative start" and "a slow start"?

"A negative start" implies problems or setbacks from the beginning, while "a slow start" simply indicates that progress was initially slow or gradual, not necessarily problematic.