at the start we

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at the start we" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a discussion or explanation about the beginning of a process, event, or situation. Example: "At the start we faced many challenges, but we learned and adapted quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"At the start, we didn't know what we were ourselves.

Independent

But certainly, at the start, we were very lethargic".

The New York Times - Sports

"At the start, we didn't understand what it all meant.

The Guardian - Sport

At the start we are given updates every few minutes.

The Guardian - Opinion

"At the start we wanted the name of the company to be Green Futures.

Independent

"At the start we did a coach tour every now and then on a Saturday.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

At the start, we both thought it was a bit strange, but now not at all.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

At the start we see Jess in tight hot-pants exercising vigorously.

The Guardian

"At the start we said the kids are not going to be paid £20 a night.

The Guardian

After the game, Cahill explained: "At the start, we showed a bit of fear".

The Guardian - Sport

At the start, we earned enough for rent, food and outings to local watering holes, but little more.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at the start we" to clearly introduce an initial action, state, or perspective within a narrative or explanation. This helps to establish a chronological sequence for your reader.

Common error

Avoid replacing "at the start we" with overly general adverbs like "then" or "later" if the intention is to specifically highlight the initial phase. This ensures clarity and prevents ambiguity about when an action occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the start we" functions as an introductory element, typically setting the stage for a narrative or explanation. As shown in Ludwig, it serves to indicate the initial perspective, action, or condition within a particular context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

26%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at the start we" is a versatile phrase used to introduce initial actions, states, or perspectives, thereby setting the stage for a narrative or explanation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While alternatives like "initially we" or "in the beginning we" exist, choosing "at the start we" provides clarity and chronological context. Remember, this phrase is best used to highlight the initial phase of a process or event, ensuring that you avoid vague temporal adverbs that could compromise the clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at first we

Uses "at first" instead of "at the start" to convey a similar temporal sense.

initially we

Replaces the prepositional phrase "at the start" with the adverb "initially", slightly altering the sentence structure.

early on we

Replaces "at the start" with "early on", which implies a point relatively near the beginning but not necessarily the absolute start.

at the outset we

Replaces "start" with "outset", providing a slightly more formal tone.

in the beginning we

Substitutes "at the start" with the more explicit phrase "in the beginning", offering a more emphatic start.

from the beginning we

Emphasizes the entire duration from the initial point, rather than just the starting point.

in the early stages we

Offers a more descriptive alternative, emphasizing the initial phase of an activity or process.

to begin with we

Employs "to begin with" for a more formal and structured introduction.

as we started

Similar to 'when we began', it shifts the phrase into a time clause.

when we began

Transforms the phrase into a subordinate clause, changing the grammatical structure.

FAQs

How can I use "at the start we" in a sentence?

Use "at the start we" to introduce an action, state, or perspective at the beginning of an event or process. For example, "At the start we faced numerous challenges."

What phrases are similar to "at the start we"?

Similar phrases include "initially we", "in the beginning we", or "at first we".

Is it correct to say "in the start we" instead of "at the start we"?

No, the correct preposition to use is "at". The phrase "at the start we" is the standard and grammatically correct form.

What's the difference between "at the start we" and "at first we"?

While similar, "at first we" often implies a contrast with what happened later, whereas "at the start we" simply indicates the beginning without necessarily implying a change.