began the year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "began the year" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate the starting point of an event or situation at the beginning of a year. For example, "They began the year with a new project." Alternative expressions include "started the year" and "kicked off the year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

She began the year ranked 45th.

The New York Times

Both began the year in the midteens.

The New York Times

He began the year ranked No. 49 in the world.

The New York Times

Aquila began the year with about 7,300 employees.

The New York Times

She began the year by winning at Sydney, Australia.

The New York Times - Sports

Likewise, Japan began the year in recovery mode.

The Guardian

The party began the year by nudging towards a more hawkish position on the deficit.

The Economist

The Orange began the year ranked in the teens, a slight that rankled the team's veterans.

The New York Times - Sports

The Bonnies began the year with a simple goal: to reach the N.C.A.A. tournament.

The New York Times - Sports

Last season, the Giants began the year 5-0 and looked dominant in doing so.

The New York Times

However, the sub-index of agricultural prices has fallen back to where it began the year.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "began the year" to clearly establish a starting point or initial state within a specific calendar year. This phrase works well when providing context or setting the scene for subsequent events or developments.

Common error

Avoid using "began the year" when referring to events that occurred in the middle or towards the end of the year. This phrase is specifically for describing initial conditions or early occurrences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "began the year" functions primarily as a temporal marker, indicating the starting point of an event, situation, or state within a specific calendar year. It often introduces a narrative or provides context for subsequent developments, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sports

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "began the year" serves as a common and versatile temporal marker, widely used to establish a starting point within a calendar year. Its neutral tone makes it appropriate for various contexts, including news, sports, and business communications. Ludwig examples reveal that the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used, setting the stage for narratives or contextualizing subsequent events. As Ludwig AI confirms, "began the year" is well-established and serves as a useful expression for indicating the commencement of a specific period. While alternatives such as "started the year" or "commenced the year" exist, "began the year" remains a reliable and widely understood option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Started the year

This alternative uses "started" instead of "began", which is a more informal synonym.

Began the new year

This alternative adds the adjective "new" before "year" for emphasis.

Commenced the year

This alternative uses "commenced", a more formal synonym for "began", suggesting a more official or serious start.

Initiated the year

This alternative emphasizes the act of initiating or setting something in motion at the beginning of the year.

Kicked off the year

This alternative uses "kicked off", an idiomatic expression indicating an energetic or enthusiastic beginning.

Opened the year

This alternative focuses on the idea of opening or commencing the year with a specific event or action.

Launched the year

This alternative implies a more planned or strategic start to the year, similar to launching a product or initiative.

The year started with

This restructures the sentence to emphasize the year as the subject and what it started with.

At the start of the year

This restructures the sentence to use a prepositional phrase, changing the emphasis.

Embarked on the year

This alternative conveys a sense of adventure or undertaking when starting the year.

FAQs

What does "began the year" mean?

The phrase "began the year" signifies the commencement or starting point of a particular entity, activity, or condition at the beginning of a calendar year. It sets a temporal reference point for subsequent events or developments.

What are some alternatives to "began the year"?

Alternatives include "started the year", "commenced the year", or "kicked off the year", depending on the level of formality and desired nuance.

Is "began the year" formal or informal?

"Began the year" is generally considered a neutral phrase suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The surrounding language and the specific situation will further influence the overall tone.

How can I use "began the year" in a sentence?

You can use "began the year" to introduce a situation, achievement, or event that occurred at the start of a year. For example, "The company "launched the year" with a new product line" or "She "started the year" ranked 45th."