at the starting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at the starting" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly when referring to the beginning of an event or process; the correct phrase would be "at the start." Example: "At the start of the meeting, we will review the agenda."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

O.K. down at the starting gate?

The New York Times

They were strangers at the starting line.

The Washington Post

"Learning at the starting line is so important".

The New York Times

But the two sides are stuck at the starting line.

The Economist

Ryun, at the starting line, was introduced to resounding cheers.

The New York Times - Sports

Someone had stepped on her foot at the starting line.

The New York Times - Sports

Another heard he was at the starting line.

The New York Times

"We have to realize that we're at the starting line.

The New York Times - Health

We're at the starting point of this agenda.

The Guardian

On enterprise mobility they're still at the starting line.

Harvard Business Review

OK, so we take the value of a potential at the starting point, sorry, we take value potential at the endpoint minus the value at the starting point.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the commencement of an event, process, or activity, use "at the start" instead of "at the starting" to ensure grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "starting" as a noun when "start" is grammatically correct. For example, say "at the start of the race" rather than "at the starting of the race".

Linguistic Context

The phrase is intended to function as a prepositional phrase indicating the commencement or initial phase of an event or process. However, Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as grammatically incorrect, suggesting the correct form is "at the start" or an alternative such as "at the beginning."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

35%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "at the starting" appears frequently across diverse sources, including news, science, and academic texts, Ludwig AI pinpoints it as grammatically incorrect. The accurate and preferred form is "at the start" or a synonym like "at the beginning". Although "at the starting" is common, writers should opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and credibility. The high occurrence of the incorrect phrase underscores the importance of careful proofreading and reliance on grammar tools to refine writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the start

Corrects the grammatical error by using the noun "start" instead of the adjective "starting".

at the beginning

Replaces "starting" with "beginning", focusing on the commencement of something.

in the beginning

Adds the preposition "in" for additional emphasis on the initial stage.

at the outset

Uses "outset" to emphasize the very start or initiation of an event or process.

at the commencement

Employs "commencement" to highlight a formal or significant start.

at the inception

Inception refers to the very beginning, start, or initiation of something.

at the initiation

Replaces "starting" with "initiation", focusing on the act of beginning something.

from the beginning

Highlights the entire duration from the point of origin.

initially

Expresses the concept of 'at the start' but functions as an adverb.

to begin with

Introduces a point that is made at the commencement of the argument.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "at the starting"?

The grammatically correct phrase is "at the start". For example, instead of "at the starting line", use "at the start line". Alternatively, you can use "at the beginning".

What's the difference between "at the starting" and "at the start"?

"At the starting" is not grammatically correct. Use "at the start" to refer to the beginning of something. The word "starting" is a verb form or adjective, while "start" functions as a noun in this context.

Which phrase is more appropriate, "at the starting point" or "at the starting line"?

Neither "at the starting point" nor "at the starting line" is grammatically sound. The correct versions are "at the start point" or "at the starting point". Use "at the beginning" as an alternative to start.

Are there situations where "starting" is correctly used with "at the"?

Yes, "starting" is correctly used as an adjective modifying a noun. For instance, "at the starting gate" or "at the starting dose" are acceptable, but in contexts where you mean 'the beginning', "at the start" is preferable. Using a phrase like "at the beginning" usually works.