be begun

USAGE SUMMARY

'be begun' is not correct and usable in written English.
The correct form is 'begin'. For example, "The project must begin right away."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

"And that work must be begun".

The New Yorker

How can it be begun?

The New York Times

They can be begun immediately, and should be.

Independent

Intelligent debate should be begun between scientists and laymen, with the aim of establishing protocols.

The Economist

Memory books, as well, ought to be begun well before death is looming.

The New York Times

Great emphasis, however, was put on the advance across the central Pacific through Micronesia, to be begun via the Gilberts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

It may just be beginning.

The New York Times - Sports

A conversion may be beginning.

The New York Times

Educational programs were begun.

The New York Times

Guided entry is begun.

The New York Times

Weekly B12 injections were begun.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct infinitive form "to begin" instead of the passive voice construction "to be begun". For example, prefer "The project needs to begin immediately" over the incorrect "The project needs to be begun immediately".

Common error

A common error is using "be begun" when the active infinitive form "to begin" is required. Remember that "be begun" implies someone else is starting the action, which is often unnecessary and grammatically awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be begun" functions as a passive infinitive, typically following modal verbs or auxiliary verbs. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is generally incorrect and should be avoided in favor of the active form.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be begun" is a passive infinitive construction that, according to Ludwig AI, is generally grammatically incorrect. While it appears frequently across various sources, including news media and scientific publications, it is advisable to avoid this phrasing. Instead, use the active infinitive form "to begin" or rephrase the sentence to use the active voice. Correct alternatives include using phrases such as "to start", "to commence", or simply "to begin" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to begin

The base form of the verb is the correct form to use after 'to'.

to start

This is a more direct and grammatically sound way of expressing the initiation of an action or process.

to commence

Offers a more formal alternative to "start", while maintaining grammatical correctness.

to initiate

Similar to "commence", but emphasizes the act of setting something in motion.

should begin

Use 'begin' to express obligation, advisability, or possibility.

must begin

Use 'begin' to express necessity or requirement.

to get started

This provides a more informal, active voice alternative.

to be initiated

Use the verb initiate in its participle past form.

to be started

Use the verb start in its participle past form.

can begin

Use 'begin' to express the possibility to initiate.

FAQs

How to correct the phrase "be begun" in a sentence?

Replace "be begun" with the infinitive form "to begin" or rephrase the sentence to use an active voice construction.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "be begun"?

The phrase "be begun" is grammatically incorrect and should generally be avoided in favor of the active form "to begin".

What are some alternatives to "the project must be begun"?

Instead of "the project must be begun", consider alternatives like "the project "must begin"" or "we must begin the project".

Is "be begun" grammatically correct?

No, "be begun" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "begin" after auxiliary verbs like "must", "can", or "should".