after they started to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after they started to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that an action or event occurred following the initiation of another action by a group of people. Example: "After they started to implement the new policy, the team noticed a significant improvement in productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Soon after, they started to go out together.

The Guardian

Bernie got a pretty good ride after they started to pay attention to him.

Harvard University

After they started to go out, "we went to a disco every Saturday afternoon.

The Guardian

Our findings show that university students in Hong Kong read more types of magazines after they started to use mobile digital devices, mainly using tablets.

The Journal of Academic Librarianship

"When I was young, we used to put the old people out in caves like this to die after they started to go senile.

The New Yorker

Indeed, the very first evidence we have outside the African continent comes at 1.8 million years ago, not so long after they started to do this processing of medium- to large-size mammal carcasses in very dangerous environments.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

If the sound is disturbing and subjects cannot sleep, they are allowed to switch off the sound 1 h after they start to try to sleep.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

There is enough time after they start to decide whether to step into competition".

The New York Times

The results suggest that (1) whether subjects can sleep within 1 h after they start to try to sleep is a good index of the effect of noise on sleep and that LAeqis a good index of the effect of noise on sleep except for the sounds which have meanings such as songs and people's talk.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Over the last week, six reports have come to light which show the phones splitting apart soon after they start to be used.

BBC

Second, with relatively long 2 year half-life, avascular dormancy is a naturally very stable situation and would be far easier to maintain long term with a low toxicity antiangiogenesis inhibitor in comparison to eradicating metastases with chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or antiangiogenic therapy after they start to grow.

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "after they started to" to clearly indicate a sequence of actions or events where one follows the beginning of another by a group of people. Ensure the context makes it clear who "they" refers to.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by ensuring that the pronoun "they" has a clear and unambiguous antecedent in the sentence or preceding context. Vague pronoun references can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after they started to" functions as a temporal conjunction phrase, indicating that an event or action occurred subsequent to the beginning of another action performed by a group. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts to establish chronological order.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "after they started to" serves as a temporal conjunction, effectively indicating that an action or event occurred following the commencement of another action by a group of people. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and usable in written English. While its frequency is classified as uncommon, it finds application across various contexts including News & Media, Science, and Academia. To ensure clarity, always confirm the pronoun "they" has a clear antecedent and consider more formal alternatives like "once they commenced" or "following their initiation" for elevated writing. Overall, it’s a versatile phrase for establishing chronological order.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

once they began to

Substitutes "started to" with "began to", offering a simpler and equally common alternative.

once they commenced

Replaces "started to" with a more formal "commenced", slightly altering the tone.

after they initiated

Replaces "started to" with "initiated", providing a direct and slightly more formal synonym.

following their initiation

Uses a more formal and passive construction, shifting the focus from the action to the state.

after they had initiated

Adds "had" to emphasize that the action of starting was completed before the subsequent event.

subsequent to their start

Employs "subsequent to" for "after", increasing formality and slightly altering sentence structure.

post their commencement

Uses "post" to mean "after", combined with the formal "commencement", making it concise and formal.

once they got underway

Replaces "started to" with the idiomatic "got underway", making the phrase more informal.

following the start of their

Changes the structure to emphasize the "start" as a noun, creating a slightly more formal tone.

after they got going

Substitutes "started to" with "got going", offering a more casual and conversational alternative.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "after they started to" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "once they commenced" or "following their initiation". These options replace more common words with elevated vocabulary.

Is there a difference between "after they started to" and "once they started to"?

While both phrases indicate a sequence of events, "once they started to" often implies a more immediate consequence or condition than "after they started to". The difference is subtle and often depends on context.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using "after they started to"?

Ensure that the pronoun "they" clearly refers to a specific group mentioned earlier in the sentence or surrounding text. Ambiguous pronoun references can lead to confusion.

Can I use "after they started to" in academic writing?

Yes, "after they started to" is perfectly acceptable in academic writing, especially when describing a process or series of actions taken by a group. However, consider more formal alternatives like "subsequent to their start" for added sophistication.