beginning the weekend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "beginning the weekend" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to the start of the weekend, typically on Friday evening or Saturday morning. An example could be: "We are planning a trip, beginning the weekend with a hike." Alternative expressions include "starting the weekend" and "kicking off the weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Event Planning

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Construction that requires service changes will be halted beginning the weekend before the convention, and officials are encouraging people who usually ride buses in Midtown to use the subway instead.

The New York Times

The police plan to cordon off six of the station's eight exits beginning the weekend before the convention, leaving only the Long Island Rail Road entrance, on 34th Street near Seventh Avenue, and the entrance under the Madison Square Garden marquee on Seventh Avenue open.

The New York Times

"At the beginning the weekend, we got a bit lost on set-up.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The new season begins the weekend of Sept. 6.

The New York Times - Arts

None of them are expected to be ready when the playoffs begin the weekend of April 20-21.

The New York Times

The chances of Bayern's overhauling Borussia Dortmund, which began the weekend 14 points ahead, are beginning to look unattainable.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite those gaffes, Woods began the weekend firmly in contention, four strokes behind the leader, Davis Love III.

The New York Times - Sports

Woods, the world's No. 1 player, will begin the weekend nine strokes behind Micheel.

The New York Times - Sports

Ups and Downs While Ernie Els began the weekend in solid position, Davis Love III missed the cut.

The New York Times - Sports

The Mets began the weekend with a bullpen E.R.A. of 5.10, by far the highest in baseball.

The New York Times

Liverpool began the weekend fourth but slipped to sixth before regaining their original position late on Sunday evening.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place this phrase as an adverbial modifier after a main clause to provide context without interrupting the sentence flow.

Common error

Do not confuse "beginning the weekend" with the fixed noun phrase 'the beginning of the weekend'. The former often acts as a participle phrase or an adverbial (e.g., 'the event starts, beginning the weekend of...'), whereas the latter requires 'of' to connect to 'weekend' when functioning as a subject or object.

Linguistic Context

In the examples provided by Ludwig, "beginning the weekend" typically functions as a present participle phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. It specifies the starting point of an action or event in relation to a specific weekend, often followed by a date or a prepositional phrase like 'of' or 'before'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Sports

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academic

3%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "beginning the weekend" is a versatile and correct expression frequently used in high-quality journalism. According to Ludwig, it serves as an effective way to introduce schedules or timelines, such as 'the new season begins the weekend of Sept. 6'. While it is often used as a participle phrase, it is essential to distinguish it from the noun phrase 'the beginning of the weekend' to ensure grammatical precision. Whether you are "beginning the weekend" with a sports recap or a cultural festival, this phrase provides a clear temporal signal. For a more informal or high-energy tone, consider alternatives like "kicking off the weekend", but for standard professional prose, the original phrase remains a reliable choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

starting the weekend

A more common and slightly less formal synonym.

at the start of the weekend

Uses a prepositional structure to define a specific point in time.

at the beginning of the weekend

A more explicit noun-phrase version that clarifies the temporal position.

beginning on the weekend

Specifies that the start occurs during the weekend period rather than just at its onset.

kicking off the weekend

An idiomatic, energetic alternative often used in entertainment or sports.

as the weekend begins

A clausal alternative that provides a smoother narrative flow.

commencing the weekend

A highly formal alternative suitable for official schedules or formal events.

launching the weekend

Suggests a planned or deliberate start to a series of events.

opening the weekend

Commonly used in the context of festivals or performance programs.

entering the weekend

Focuses on the transition into the weekend period.

FAQs

How to use "beginning the weekend" in a sentence?

You can use it to specify a start date, such as 'The new season begins, "starting the weekend" of Sept. 6', or to describe a sequence of actions.

What can I say instead of "beginning the weekend"?

Depending on the tone, you can use alternatives like ""starting the weekend"", "kicking off the weekend" or "at the start of the weekend".

Which is correct: "beginning the weekend" or "beginning of the weekend"?

Both are correct in different roles. "beginning the weekend" often acts as a modifier (e.g., 'beginning the weekend before the event'), while "beginning of the weekend" is a noun phrase used to identify a specific time period.

Is "beginning the weekend" formal enough for business?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in professional writing, though "commencing the weekend" or "scheduled for the weekend" may sometimes be preferred for higher levels of formality.