beginning of January

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "beginning of January" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the early part of the month of January, typically the first few days or the first week. Example: "We are planning to launch the new product at the beginning of January."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

It is only the beginning of January.

The New York Times

It's the beginning of January, and it's cold.

The New York Times

They're due at the very beginning of January.

The New Yorker

The latest murder comes against a backdrop of political violence since the beginning of January.

The Guardian

There were 5.9 million people receiving extended benefits under special programs at the beginning of January.

The New York Times

That's almost 20 percentage points higher than it was at the beginning of January.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

The densities are lower during the end of December to beginning of January 2012 compared to other months.

Earth, Planets and Space

The Fed has cut rates 12 times since the beginning of January 2001.

The Economist

But at the close on Friday, Microsoft's stock was 55 percent below its price at the beginning of January 2000.

The New York Times

At the beginning of January 1944 the U.S. 5th Army won a position facing Cassino across the Garigliano River.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I finally met him in the beginning of January 2007, and we started shooting two weeks later.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience and choose a synonym like "early January" if brevity is preferred.

Common error

Avoid assuming "beginning of January" implies the entire first half of the month. It usually refers to the first few days or week.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "beginning of January" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event occurs. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression. It modifies verbs and indicates a temporal context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "beginning of January" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the early part of January. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression. Its frequency and varied usage across domains like News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business demonstrate its versatility. For alternative phrasing, consider "early January" or "start of January". While widely accepted, clarity can be enhanced by specifying the year (e.g., "beginning of January 2024") and understanding that it typically encompasses the first few days or the first week of the month.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

early January

Shorter and more concise way of expressing the same timeframe.

start of January

Uses "start" instead of "beginning", offering a slight variation in wording.

in early January

Similar to "early January" but uses a prepositional phrase.

first days of January

More explicit about the timeframe, specifying multiple days.

first week of January

Refers to the entire first week rather than just the initial days.

around January first

Indicates a date approximately near January 1st.

the initial part of January

More descriptive and less concise, emphasizing the initial portion of the month.

at the dawn of January

More figurative language to describe the start of the month.

the opening of January

Uses "opening" to convey the start of the month.

as January commences

Formal phrasing using "commences" instead of "begins".

FAQs

What is another way to say "beginning of January"?

You can use alternatives such as "early January" or "start of January" to convey a similar meaning.

How specific is the timeframe when I say "beginning of January"?

The phrase "beginning of January" generally refers to the first few days or the first week of January. For a more precise date, specify the exact day or week.

Is it okay to use "beginning of January" in formal writing?

Yes, "beginning of January" is appropriate for formal writing. However, for increased conciseness, consider using "early January".

What is the difference between "early January" and "end of December"?

"Early January" refers to the start of the new year, while "end of December" refers to the final days of the previous year. They represent distinct time periods.