at conception

USAGE SUMMARY

"at conception" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the moment when something began, such as in the phrase "the idea for the project was born at conception".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The concept of "life at conception" is mentioned four more times in the 65-page report. .

Huffington Post

Life begins at conception".

The New Yorker

The priest says it begins at conception.

The New York Times

"He believes that life begins at conception.

The New York Times

The Mets' identity crisis began at conception.

The New York Times - Sports

I believe life does begin at conception.

The New York Times

"I believe that life begins at conception.

The Guardian

Of those, about 50 are at Conception.

The New York Times

Sex is fixed at conception and cannot be changed".

The Guardian

Not at conception, as you may have previously heard".

The New Yorker

The program begins at conception; therefore, so does personhood.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the beginning of life or a process, use "at conception" to precisely indicate the starting point, particularly in scientific, ethical, or legal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "at conception" when a more general term like "at the beginning" or "initially" would be more appropriate. "At conception" is most effective when referring to the specific instance of something originating.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at conception" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the timing or starting point of an action or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at conception" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that functions primarily as an adverbial modifier. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and appropriate for use in written English. It is commonly employed in news, media, and scientific contexts to denote a precise starting point, most often when relating to the beginning of life. When writing, ensure that the term's specificity is warranted; otherwise, broader terms like "at the beginning" might be more suitable. While several alternatives exist, phrases like "from the moment of conception" closely mirror its meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

from the moment of conception

Specifies the exact starting point, similar to "at conception", but with a slightly more emphatic tone.

at the moment of fertilization

Refers specifically to the biological start of a new organism, similar to "at conception" but more scientifically precise.

from inception

Synonymous with "at conception", but slightly more concise and often used in business or project management contexts.

from the very beginning

Implies a start from the earliest possible time, analogous to "at conception" but broader in application.

in its initial stage

Focuses on the early phase of development, mirroring the idea of "at conception" in a more general sense.

at the genesis

Evokes a sense of origin or creation, akin to "at conception" but with a slightly more formal tone.

at its origin

Emphasizes the starting point of something, similar to "at conception" but applicable to various contexts beyond biology.

at the start

A simpler and more general way to indicate the beginning, like "at conception" but less specific.

from its roots

Implies a beginning or foundation, similar to "at conception" but focuses on the underlying source.

at the dawn

Suggests the initial appearance or start of something, like "at conception" but with a more metaphorical or poetic tone.

FAQs

How is "at conception" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "at conception" is often used to specify the beginning of life or the starting point of an idea or project. For example, "Genetic traits are determined "at conception"" or "The project was flawed "at conception"".

What are some alternative phrases to "at conception"?

Alternatives to "at conception" include phrases like "from the moment of conception", "from the very beginning", or "at its origin", depending on the specific context.

Is it more accurate to say "at conception" or "from conception"?

Both "at conception" and "from conception" can be grammatically correct, but "at conception" specifies a precise moment, while "from conception" indicates a duration or a process starting from that moment.

In what contexts is "at conception" most commonly used?

The phrase "at conception" is frequently used in discussions about the beginning of life, genetics, ethical debates, and legal discussions surrounding reproductive rights. It can also be used more generally to refer to the starting point of a project or idea.