an auspicious start

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an auspicious start" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a beginning that is favorable or promising, often in contexts like projects, events, or new ventures. Example: "The team was optimistic after an auspicious start to the project, with early results exceeding expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's not an auspicious start.

Independent

Still, not an auspicious start.

The Guardian - Tech

IT WAS hardly an auspicious start.

The Economist

It was not an auspicious start.

The New York Times

Not an auspicious start for the reliever.

The Guardian - Sport

He had already made an auspicious start as a poet.

The New Yorker

And it's hard to consider Jamestown an auspicious start.

The New Yorker

Alas, this is not an auspicious start for Younis.

Independent

Talk about an auspicious start at the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The New York Times

The tournament had an auspicious start with their first board, the diagramed deal.

The New York Times

In one respect at least, the competition is off to an auspicious start.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an auspicious start" when you want to convey a sense of optimism and good fortune associated with the commencement of an event, project, or endeavor. It suggests that the initial conditions are favorable for success.

Common error

While "an auspicious start" is perfectly acceptable, avoid using it too frequently in casual or informal writing. In such contexts, simpler alternatives like "a good start" or "a promising beginning" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

An auspicious start functions as a descriptive phrase, typically modifying a noun to indicate that the beginning of something is promising or fortunate. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. The phrase sets a positive tone and suggests potential for future success, as shown in examples like 'It was an auspicious start, but the Devils came up empty-handed the rest of the way.'

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Reference

3%

Science

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an auspicious start" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe a promising or fortunate beginning. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's widely accepted and appears predominantly in news and media sources, indicating a neutral to formal register. While perfectly acceptable, consider simpler alternatives in informal settings. Remember to use "an auspicious start" to convey optimism about an event or project's initial stages, suggesting favorable conditions for future success.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a favorable beginning

Substitutes 'auspicious' with 'favorable' and 'start' with 'beginning', providing a simpler and more direct alternative.

a propitious launch

Swaps 'auspicious' for 'propitious' maintaining a similar level of formality, and uses 'launch' in place of 'start'.

a promising commencement

Replaces 'auspicious' with 'promising' and 'start' with 'commencement', altering the formality slightly.

a flying start

This idiomatic expression conveys a very energetic and successful beginning, diverging slightly in tone from "an auspicious start".

an encouraging kickoff

The adjective is changed from 'auspicious' to 'encouraging'.

a bright outset

Uses 'bright' in place of 'auspicious' to convey a positive outlook and 'outset' instead of 'start'.

a positive initiation

Replaces 'auspicious' with 'positive' and 'start' with 'initiation', giving it a slightly more formal tone.

a fortunate kick-off

Replaces 'start' with 'kick-off' suggesting a more informal and energetic beginning, while 'fortunate' replaces 'auspicious'.

a successful take-off

Uses 'successful' instead of 'auspicious' to emphasize the positive outcome, and 'take-off' instead of 'start', indicating progress.

a good head start

Focuses on the advantage gained at the beginning, differing slightly from the more general positive connotation of "an auspicious start".

FAQs

How can I use "an auspicious start" in a sentence?

"An auspicious start" is typically used to describe the beginning of an event, project, or period. For example, "The new CEO's tenure got off to an auspicious start with record profits in the first quarter."

What are some alternatives to saying "an auspicious start"?

You can use alternatives such as "a promising commencement", "a favorable beginning", or "a bright outset" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "an auspicious start" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "an auspicious start" is suitable for formal writing as it employs sophisticated vocabulary and conveys a sense of educated expression. It's frequently found in news articles, academic papers, and business reports.

What does "auspicious" really mean in the context of "an auspicious start"?

In the phrase "an auspicious start", "auspicious" means showing or suggesting that future success is likely. It implies that initial circumstances are favorable and indicative of a positive outcome.