began working on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "began working on" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the start of a task or project that someone has started to engage in. Example: "She began working on her thesis last month and has made significant progress since then."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Jeffreys began working on one the very next day.

The Guardian - Film

He began working on an alternative.

The New York Times

Second, the coalition government began working on bespoke "city deals".

The Economist

I began working on stories about battered women.

The New York Times

Then, in the 1990s, she began working on a memoir.

The New York Times - Arts

With that, she began working on another customer's hair.

The New York Times

They began working on what they called Rachel's Law.

The New Yorker

She then began working on her own bat.

The New York Times - Arts

Smith began working on boats while he was a teenager.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In 1958 DeFeo began working on her masterpiece, The Rose.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Caron began working on Brodeur's balance and mobility.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure by occasionally using synonyms like "started working on" or "commenced work on" to avoid repetition and enhance readability.

Common error

Ensure the verb tense is consistent when using "began working on". Avoid mixing past tense ("began") with present or future tense verbs later in the sentence without proper context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "began working on" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of an activity. It connects a subject with the action of starting work on something, specifying the initiation of effort towards a particular task or project. Ludwig's examples showcase its usage across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Wiki

23%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science

13%

Science & Research

8%

Huffington Post

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "began working on" is a versatile and frequently used verb phrase that indicates the commencement of a task or project. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its grammatical correctness and wide applicability make it a reliable choice in various writing contexts. It commonly appears in news and media, encyclopedias, scientific articles, and even wikis. While synonyms such as "started working on" and "commenced working on" offer similar meanings, it's important to maintain consistent verb tense and choose the most appropriate alternative based on the desired level of formality and emphasis. Overall, "began working on" is a fundamental phrase for describing the initiation of effort towards a specific goal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

started working on

Replaces "began" with its direct synonym "started", maintaining the original meaning with a more common term.

commenced working on

Uses the more formal "commenced" instead of "began", increasing the formality of the phrase.

initiated work on

Substitutes "working" with "work" and uses "initiated" for "began", slightly altering the phrasing.

undertook work on

Replaces "began working" with "undertook work", indicating a more serious and committed start.

embarked on

Uses "embarked on" to convey starting a journey or project, implying a significant undertaking.

set about working on

Adds "set about" to emphasize the deliberate action of starting a task.

moved on to

Indicates a transition to working on something new, differing slightly from the initial start.

turned to

Suggests shifting focus to a new task or project, implying a change in direction.

started the process of

Replaces "began working on" by indicating the beginning of a procedure or set of actions

dedicated efforts to

Implies putting in specific, focused effort from the beginning, emphasizing dedication.

FAQs

How can I use "began working on" in a sentence?

You can use "began working on" to describe the start of an activity or project. For example, "She "began working on" her novel last year."

What are some alternatives to "began working on"?

Some alternatives include "started working on", "commenced working on", or "initiated work on". The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is there a difference between "began working on" and "started working on"?

The phrases "began working on" and "started working on" are largely interchangeable. "Began" might sound slightly more formal, but both effectively convey the commencement of a task.

When is it appropriate to use "began working on" instead of other similar phrases?

Use "began working on" when you want to emphasize the initiation of a task or project. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts and is widely understood. Alternatives may carry slightly different connotations (e.g., "embarked on" suggests a major undertaking).