began waking up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "began waking up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the process of starting to become awake or alert, often after sleep. Example: "As the sun rose, I began waking up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Unfortunately the birds began waking up just as she was about to deliver them.

The New Yorker

Witnesses reportedly heard juveniles walking around in the early hours of Monday morning, but didn't report anything unusual until 7 a.m after neighborhood residents began waking up and saw the wake of damage up and down the street, according to Fox31.

Huffington Post

Suitably reprieved, Newcastle began waking up to City's fallibilities.

The Guardian - Sport

But then her 4-year-old son, Andre, began waking up in the middle of the night, sweating and vomiting.

The New York Times

This week the world — finally — began waking up to the devastation wrought by monsoon flooding that has already affected 20 million people.

The New York Times

By the early 80's the years of hard living had caught up with him: he began waking up on sidewalks; friends would stuff food into his pockets so he'd remember to eat something when he finally made it home.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

One song is called "6 A.M". and the next tune they performed began "Woke up at 6 am".

HuffPost

Continue going to bed at the exact same time until you begin waking up at a consistent time.

WikiHow

A couple of years before I'd begun waking up at night, reliving mistakes and bad acts.

HuffPost

Others may begin waking up at night because they're learning new skills — like rolling over and communicating for the first time through smiles, cooing and laughter — and they're psyched to try them out.

HuffPost

"A couple of years before I'd begun waking up at night, reliving mistakes and bad acts"."You mean," I asked, "there's a place where you can go and confess anything, no matter how small?

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "began waking up" to describe the initial phase of transitioning from sleep to wakefulness. It accurately conveys the start of the awakening process.

Common error

Avoid repetitive use of "began waking up" within close proximity in your writing. Vary your language with synonyms like "started to awaken" or "roused" to maintain reader engagement and flow.

Linguistic Context

Began waking up functions as a verb phrase indicating the start of the action of waking up. Ludwig's examples show it describing the commencement of alertness or consciousness after a period of sleep. It depicts a transition from sleeping to being awake.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "began waking up" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe the initial transition from sleep to wakefulness. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. It is found across diverse sources, particularly in news and media. For alternatives, consider "started to awaken" or "started waking". While versatile, avoid overuse and maintain variety in descriptive passages. As Ludwig shows, its primary function is to narrate the start of a character's or entity's journey back to consciousness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

started to awaken

Focuses on the commencement of awakening process; 'awaken' is slightly more formal.

started waking

A more concise way to express the beginning of the waking process.

commenced waking up

"Commenced" is a more formal synonym for "began".

initiated waking up

"Initiated" is a more formal alternative to "began".

started to rouse

"Rouse" implies a gentle awakening, potentially from a drowsy state.

began to stir

"Stir" suggests a slight movement indicating the start of waking.

started to come to

Implies regaining consciousness, possibly after being unconscious.

gradually woke up

Emphasizes the gradual nature of the awakening process.

slowly awakened

Highlights the slowness of the awakening process.

awoke gradually

Similar to slowly awakened, emphasizing the gradual process of waking up.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "began waking up" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "commenced waking up" or "initiated waking up". These options add a layer of sophistication to your writing.

Is there a difference between "started waking up" and "began waking up"?

The phrases are nearly synonymous. However, "began waking up" might subtly imply a slightly more gradual or prolonged start to the awakening process compared to "started waking up".

What verbs can I use instead of "began" in the phrase "began waking up"?

You can substitute "began" with verbs like "commenced", "initiated", or "started", depending on the desired level of formality and nuance.

When is it appropriate to use "began waking up" in writing?

"Began waking up" is suitable in descriptive narratives when you want to emphasize the initial stage of someone transitioning from sleep to a state of wakefulness. It is commonly used across various contexts, as evidenced by Ludwig.