beginning of december

USAGE SUMMARY

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

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They were supposed to come at the beginning of December".

The Guardian - Books

Finally, the beginning of December was proposed as the starting time for winter operation of the project.

Journal of Hydro-environment Research

I do it in short bursts at the beginning of December, usually late at night.

The Guardian - Money

Sometime around the beginning of December my colleagues start to speak a foreign language – Christmasese.

The Guardian

For Morrisons and Sainsbury's, it was the seventh cut since the beginning of December.

The Guardian - Business

At the beginning of December, there will be a Beatles weekend at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

The Guardian

By the beginning of December, many in the house were showing their own signs of trauma.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr. Crichton will continue to make media appearances through the beginning of December, and.

The New York Times

In the beginning of December there was loads and loads of vaccine.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Rand arrived in New York at the beginning of December 1934, in anticipation of the opening in January.

Wikipedia

This area has provided a floor for NTAP since the beginning of December 2009.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For promotional material, especially related to the holiday season, using "beginning of December" can subtly create a sense of urgency, encouraging early engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "beginning of December" when a specific date is crucial. The phrase is subjective; some might consider it the first week, while others might include the first ten days. Clarify the timeframe to prevent misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "beginning of December" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, specifying when an event occurs. Ludwig's examples show it modifies verbs, adverbs, and adjectives, indicating the timing of actions or states.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "beginning of December" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the early part of the month. As supported by Ludwig's analysis and the diverse examples, it's widely used across various contexts, especially in News & Media. While generally neutral in tone, it's essential to avoid temporal ambiguity by clarifying the specific timeframe when precision is needed. Alternatives include "early December" or "start of December", but these, too, may require further specification depending on the context. In summary, the phrase effectively serves to set temporal expectations but demands careful consideration to ensure clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Early December

Uses a more general term to indicate the initial part of the month.

Start of December

Emphasizes the commencement of the month.

First week of December

Specifies a precise timeframe within the month.

Beginning of December month

Adds 'month' for clarity, though it can be redundant.

Around December first

Indicates approximation to the first day of the month.

Early part of December

Highlights a non-specific initial period within December.

Initial days of December

Refers to the first few days of the month.

December's commencement

Uses a more formal term for the start of the month.

As December begins

Presents the phrase as an action or event that is starting.

The onset of December

Implies a gradual start to the month rather than a specific date.

FAQs

How do I use "beginning of December" in a sentence?

You can use "beginning of December" to indicate the early part of the month. For example, "The project is scheduled to launch at the "beginning of December".

What can I say instead of "beginning of December"?

You can use alternatives like "early December", "start of December", or "first week of December".

Is it more formal to say "early December" or "beginning of December"?

"Beginning of December" and "early December" are generally interchangeable in most contexts. Neither is particularly more formal than the other.

What is the difference between "beginning of December" and "end of November"?

"Beginning of December" refers to the initial part of December, while "end of November" refers to the final part of November. They denote distinct timeframes in adjacent months.