beginning of hostilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "beginning of hostilities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the initial phase or onset of conflict or aggression, often in a military or diplomatic context. Example: "The beginning of hostilities was marked by a series of unexpected attacks on both sides."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Since the beginning of hostilities in Afghanistan and Iraq, U.S. military and security operations have apprehended about 50,000 individuals.

The New York Times

It should be added that several of the heaviest specific complaints condemned actions of the British government taken after the beginning of hostilities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Despite that dire situation, Lyautey argued against collaboration with the Spanish, a stance he had advocated since the beginning of hostilities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Since the beginning of hostilities in Iraq, 34 journalists have given their lives; many others have been injured while bringing us that story".

The New York Times

While Columbia had often been depicted as emotionally flat — smiling benignantly or weeping for a fallen hero — the prospect of war and the beginning of hostilities infused her with fire in defense of the Union.

The New York Times

For all of the belligerents the conversion of automotive facilities was an afterthought, improvised after the beginning of hostilities, and the American industry, involved only for a short time, never fully utilized its capacity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The United States has already accepted 1,500 Syrian refugees since the beginning of the hostilities and has contributed more than $4 billion in humanitarian aid for them.

Huffington Post

By the beginning of the hostilities in Korea, all MASH units were undermanned and the difficult terrain in Korea prevented easy transport, making it very difficult for the MASH units to operate in the Pusan Perimeter battle.

Wikipedia

The last round of hostilities began in mid-November when Israel began an assault on the enclave after militants there stepped up rocket attacks against southern Israel.

The New York Times

With fighting escalating, the Israel Defense Forces announced a four-hour cessation of hostilities beginning at 3 p.m. local time Wednesday to give rescue workers time to evacuate the dead and the injured, and civilians trapped in combat zones time to escape.

Los Angeles Times

With violence spiraling in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces announced a four-hour cessation of hostilities beginning at 3 p.m. Wednesday to give rescue workers time to remove the dead and evacuate the injured, and to give civilians trapped in combat zones time to escape.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about historical events, use "beginning of hostilities" to clearly mark the transition from peace to conflict. This phrase is especially effective when detailing the events that led up to the first acts of war.

Common error

Ensure you're not using "beginning of hostilities" when you actually mean the end of conflict. Double-check your context to verify you're referring to the start, not the cessation, of the fighting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "beginning of hostilities" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig examples show it denoting the starting point of armed conflicts or war. It is often followed by a prepositional phrase specifying the location or parties involved.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "beginning of hostilities" is a noun phrase denoting the commencement of a conflict or war. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct. It is most frequently found in news reports, encyclopedias, and wiki articles, indicating a neutral and informative register. To ensure accuracy, it's crucial to distinguish between the phrase and similar terms such as "cessation of hostilities", which refers to the end of conflict. Consider using alternative phrases like "outbreak of war" or "start of conflict" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outbreak of war

Replaces "hostilities" with "war" and uses "outbreak" instead of "beginning", indicating a more general start of war.

start of conflict

Substitutes "hostilities" with the more generic term "conflict", broadening the scope beyond armed conflict.

commencement of warfare

Replaces "beginning" with "commencement" and "hostilities" with "warfare", resulting in a more formal tone.

initiation of aggression

Replaces "hostilities" with "aggression", focusing on the act of initiating conflict.

dawn of conflict

Uses a metaphorical term, "dawn", to describe the start of conflict, adding a sense of foreboding.

onset of fighting

Replaces "hostilities" with "fighting", making it more specific to physical combat.

eruption of violence

Uses "eruption" to convey a sudden and forceful outbreak of violence, replacing the more neutral "beginning".

start of armed conflict

Adds the adjective "armed" to explicitly define the type of conflict, slightly narrowing the scope.

inception of combat

Replaces "beginning" with "inception" and "hostilities" with "combat", creating a more technical and formal expression.

initiation of military action

Emphasizes the military aspect of the conflict by using "military action" in place of "hostilities".

FAQs

How can I use "beginning of hostilities" in a sentence?

You can use "beginning of hostilities" to describe the start of a conflict. For example: "The "beginning of hostilities" was marked by a surprise attack."

What is a more formal way to say "beginning of hostilities"?

A more formal alternative to "beginning of hostilities" is "commencement of warfare", which carries a more official and serious tone.

Is "beginning of hostilities" the same as "declaration of war"?

No, "beginning of hostilities" refers to the actual start of fighting, while "declaration of war" is the formal announcement of a state of war. The "beginning of hostilities" might occur before or after a formal declaration.

What phrases are similar in meaning to "beginning of hostilities"?

Similar phrases include "outbreak of war", "start of conflict", and "initiation of aggression", all of which describe the commencement of conflict.