beginning of semester

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "beginning of semester" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the start of a period of study at school or college, usually lasting about six months. For example: "The beginning of semester is an exciting time, when new classes and friends are made."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The digital storytelling project was presented to the students at the beginning of semester.

Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning

In general the percentage of CO for both programs at the end of the semester increased between 76-83% compared with that of the beginning of semester.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

There were 198 enrolled at the beginning of semester in the focus year, 2010, with 164 still enrolled at the end of semester.

Functional Linguistics

Author 1 conducted five semi-structured focus groups at the beginning of Semester 2. The number of students in each group was 4, 8, 7, 2, and 5, representing almost 20% of the student cohort.

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

I went to the University of Michigan, my home-town school, and during my sophomore year I bumped into a classmate who urged me to go with her to the Michigan Daily, the student paper, to hear the editors' beginning-of-semester spiel.

The New Yorker

On the y-axis, zero represents the beginning of the semester and 1.0 represents the end of the semester.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

It was completed by 83%% of the students at the beginning of the semester and by 40%% at the end of the semester.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

A doctoral research assistant in math and science education experienced in interviewing techniques conducted individual hour-long, semi-structured interviews with 16 undergraduates (n = 10 at the beginning of the semester and n = 6 at the end of the semester).

CBE Life Sciences Education

"I get the first 2 weeks done in advance so that I have time to deal with all of the beginning-of-the-semester emergencies," he says.

Science Magazine

In our study, students were introduced to phylogenetic trees at the beginning of the semester and worked with trees during many of the laboratory sessions throughout the semester.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Students generate maps at the beginning of the semester, revise after peer review, and revise once more at the end of the semester.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "beginning of semester", ensure that the context clearly indicates which semester is being referred to, especially if discussing multiple semesters within the same document.

Common error

Avoid vague references to "beginning of semester" without specifying the year or term (e.g., Fall 2024, Spring 2025) to prevent confusion, especially in contexts where multiple semesters are relevant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "beginning of semester" functions as a temporal marker, indicating the starting point of an academic semester. This is supported by examples in Ludwig, where the phrase is used to describe events and activities happening at the commencement of a semester.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "beginning of semester" is a commonly used and grammatically correct temporal marker that indicates the start of an academic semester. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from diverse sources, including science and news media. While generally neutral in tone, its formality can shift based on context. Remember to clarify the specific semester when using this phrase to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "start of the semester" and "semester commencement" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

start of the semester

Replaces "beginning" with "start", a direct synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

semester commencement

Uses a more formal noun to describe the beginning of the semester.

onset of semester

Employs "onset", suggesting the initial phase or start.

semester's initial phase

Rephrases to emphasize the initial period of the semester.

first part of the semester

Specifies the "beginning" as the "first part", providing a clearer description.

semester kickoff

Uses "kickoff" to indicate the start in a more informal way.

at the inception of the semester

Introduces a more formal tone by using "inception".

when the semester starts

Rephrases as a temporal clause, focusing on the time the semester starts.

early in the semester

Shifts focus to the early period, rather than the absolute start.

semester opening

Uses "opening" as a noun to represent the beginning.

FAQs

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

You can use "beginning of semester" to describe events or activities occurring at the start of an academic term. For example, "At the beginning of semester, students often attend orientation sessions."

What's another way to say "beginning of semester"?

Alternatives include "start of the semester", "semester commencement", or "onset of semester".

Is it more formal to say "beginning of semester" or "start of semester"?

"Beginning of semester" and "start of semester" are generally interchangeable. "Semester commencement" might be considered slightly more formal.

What activities typically happen at the "beginning of semester"?

Common activities include course registration, orientation programs, syllabus distribution, and introductory lectures.