began again

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "began again" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the start of an action or process once more after it has previously stopped or ended. Example: "After a brief pause, she took a deep breath and began again, determined to finish her speech."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Then she began again.

The New Yorker

Errrr, I began again.

The New York Times

The singing began again.

The New Yorker

Then trouble began again.

The New York Times

Moore began again.

The Guardian

I began again.

The New Yorker

So he began again.

The Guardian - Arts

The film began again.

The New Yorker

Demonstrations began again; crowds shook their fists.

The New Yorker

Three weeks later, the affair began again.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Begin again.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "began again" to clearly indicate the resumption of an activity, process, or state after an interruption or pause. It ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity about whether something is a continuation or a completely new beginning.

Common error

Avoid using "began again" with adverbs that already imply repetition, such as "repeatedly" or "once more". For example, instead of "He repeatedly began again", simply use "He began again repeatedly" or rephrase to "He began again and again."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "began again" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the resumption of an action or state. According to Ludwig AI, this expression signifies a repeated initiation, as demonstrated across numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "began again" is a versatile verb phrase used to indicate the resumption of an action after an interruption. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across a variety of contexts, especially in News & Media. While there's a risk of redundancy with certain adverbs, understanding the nuances of its usage ensures effective communication. Alternatives include "restarted", "resumed", and "started anew", offering options for varied expression. "Began again" helps clarify that something is being restarted and not initiated for the first time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

restarted

A straightforward synonym, emphasizing the initiation of something for a second (or subsequent) time.

began once more

A more emphatic and descriptive way of saying "began again".

resumed

A more formal and direct synonym, implying a continuation after a pause.

started anew

Emphasizes a fresh start, often after a significant change or difficulty.

recommenced

A formal term suggesting a deliberate and official restart.

reinitiated

Similar to 'recommenced' but suggests a more active or forceful start.

picked up again

Suggests a less formal resumption, as if something was simply set aside and then retrieved.

proceeded again

Suggests a formal or structured continuation of an action.

carried on

Implies continuation, often in the face of difficulty or opposition.

started from scratch

Suggests starting over completely, often after a failure.

FAQs

How can I use "began again" in a sentence?

You can use "began again" to indicate that something has restarted after a pause or interruption. For instance, "After a brief intermission, the concert "began again"".

What is a simple substitute for "began again"?

A simple substitute for "began again" is "restarted". For example, instead of saying, "The presentation began again after the technical difficulty", you could say, "The presentation restarted after the technical difficulty".

Is it correct to say "began again from scratch"?

While understandable, "began again from scratch" can be somewhat redundant. Starting "from scratch" already implies a fresh start. A more concise phrasing might be "started from scratch" or simply ""began again", taking into account past lessons".

What's the difference between "began again" and "continued"?

"Began again" implies there was a definite pause or stop before the action restarted. "Continued" suggests an uninterrupted flow or progression. If the action had stopped entirely, use "began again"; if it was ongoing, use continued.