a positive start

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a positive start" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an encouraging or favorable beginning to an event, project, or situation. Example: "The team was excited about the new project, and the initial meeting set a positive start for the collaboration ahead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

His first game offered a positive start.

Independent

This is definitely a positive start.

The New York Times

A positive start by Nigeria, though.

The Guardian - Sport

"But the good thing is we've made a positive start.

The Guardian - Sport

Investing in registered managers would be a positive start.

The Guardian

So it was a positive start to the championship.

The New York Times - Sports

Are new year's resolutions a positive start to the year, or are they doomed to failure?

The Guardian

"It's a positive start," says Mr Spence, "but there are still massive problems of perception.

The Guardian

A positive start on Wall Street has put some life into London shares again.

The Guardian - Business

And this despite a positive start to November when bookings were up 25%.

The Guardian - Travel

It's still early days for the investment team, but they are off to a positive start".

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a positive start" to emphasize the beneficial initial phase of a project, initiative, or endeavor, highlighting its potential for future success.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on the phrase "a positive start" without providing specific details about what makes the beginning positive. Instead, elaborate on the concrete achievements or promising indicators that justify the assessment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a positive start" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject complement or object. As confirmed by Ludwig, it describes a favorable or encouraging beginning. It often indicates an initial period characterized by progress or optimism.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a positive start" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe an encouraging beginning. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, it conveys optimism about initial progress and potential. While frequently used, avoid overuse by providing specific details that substantiate the 'positive' assessment. Alternatives like "an auspicious beginning" or "a promising kickoff" can add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an auspicious beginning

Replaces "positive" with "auspicious", implying a promising or fortunate start.

a promising kickoff

Substitutes "start" with "kickoff", suggesting an energetic and hopeful beginning.

a favorable commencement

Uses more formal language, replacing "positive" with "favorable" and "start" with "commencement".

a good head start

Emphasizes the advantage gained from a positive beginning.

a flying start

Implies a rapid and successful beginning.

a strong opening

Focuses on the strength and impact of the initial phase.

an encouraging outset

Highlights the encouraging nature of the beginning.

a successful launch

Suggests a well-executed and effective beginning.

a solid foundation

Focuses on the creation of a firm and reliable base.

a bright dawn

Uses metaphorical language to describe a hopeful and promising beginning.

FAQs

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

You can use "a positive start" to describe an encouraging beginning to something. For instance, "The project got "a positive start" thanks to the team's hard work.".

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

Alternatives include "an auspicious beginning", "a promising kickoff", or "a favorable commencement", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a positive start"?

Yes, "a positive start" is grammatically correct. The article 'a' is used because "positive start" is a countable noun phrase.

What does it mean when something has "a positive start"?

It means that the initial phase of something is going well, with encouraging signs and potential for future success. It suggests that things are off to "a good start".