began to start

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "began to start" is grammatically correct but somewhat redundant. You can use it when emphasizing the initiation of an action that is already implied by "began." Example: "She began to start her project after the meeting." Alternative expressions include "started" and "commenced."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Research in Indian art began to start where it once stopped: at the modern era.

The New York Times - Arts

That victory was then the sixth in a row for the Knicks, who had been struggling until Mr. Lin began to start.

The New York Times

Ms. Parveen began to start new businesses, even building a laundry that she put her husband in charge of to keep him busy.

The New York Times

It struck me that if an American writer living in England began to start sounding off about who we should vote for, people wouldn't take kindly to it.

Independent

In 1972, the International Tennis Federation began to start using yellow balls (better for TV viewers to pick out) in 1972.

The Guardian - Sport

Once it became clear that vouchers would not benefit the Catholic Church at the expense of all denominations, the liberal and evangelical Protestant establishments set aside their traditional rivalries and began to start their own schools.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Volunteers have begun to start clearing the sites.

Independent

That money's beginning to start to flow through now.

The Guardian

"We're beginning to start up some of those businesses.

The Guardian - Business

From there, I was really able to begin to start my story.

The New Yorker

We are finally beginning to start an Asian American studies certificate program this year.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, prefer using either "began" or "started" alone to avoid redundancy. For instance, instead of "He began to start working", simply write "He began working".

Common error

Avoid combining synonyms that express the same action, such as "began to start". Choose the stronger and more concise verb, reducing unnecessary words that dilute your message. Instead, try "began" or "started" separately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "began to start" functions as a verb phrase indicating the initiation of an action. Although grammatically sound, it's often considered redundant. As Ludwig AI explains, it's advisable to use either verb independently for conciseness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Wiki

13%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "began to start" is grammatically correct but often deemed redundant. While it conveys the initiation of an action, it's generally recommended to use either "began" or "started" independently for clearer communication. Ludwig AI highlights its occasional use in news and media, yet more formal contexts benefit from more precise language. Alternatives like "initiated" or "commenced" can enhance clarity and conciseness. As such, while acceptable, careful consideration should be given to context and desired level of formality to determine if "began to start" is the most effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

started to begin

Reverses the order of the verbs, slightly altering the emphasis while retaining the core meaning of initiating something.

commenced starting

Uses a more formal synonym for 'began' and rephrases 'to start', maintaining a professional tone.

initiated the start of

Substitutes 'began' with 'initiated', adding a touch of formality and specifying 'the start of' something.

started initiating

Combines 'started' with 'initiating', emphasizing the active commencement of an action.

got underway

Replaces the entire phrase with an idiom meaning to begin or commence.

started off

Uses a phrasal verb to convey the idea of beginning or commencing an activity.

began working on

Focuses on the action that is starting, replacing 'to start' with a specific activity.

launched into

Emphasizes a more energetic or enthusiastic beginning.

set about starting

Indicates the act of preparing to start something.

embarked on starting

Implies a more significant or adventurous beginning.

FAQs

Is "began to start" grammatically correct?

Yes, the phrase "began to start" is grammatically correct, but it's often considered redundant. While not incorrect, using either "began" or "started" alone is more concise and clearer.

What's a more concise alternative to "began to start"?

Instead of "began to start", you can use simpler alternatives like "started" or "commenced". These options convey the same meaning without the repetition.

When is it appropriate to use "began to start"?

While typically redundant, "began to start" might be used for emphasis, though it's generally better to rephrase the sentence for clarity. For example, "She began to start the engine" could be replaced with "She started the engine".

Are there situations where the redundancy in "began to start" is useful?

In very rare cases, the redundancy might add emphasis, but this is generally not recommended. It's usually clearer and more effective to use a single verb like "initiated", "launched" or "commenced" depending on the context.