beginning to start

USAGE SUMMARY

"beginning to start" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when describing the start of a process or task. For example: "The students were beginning to start studying for their exams."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"People are just beginning to start to consider philanthropy as part of their overall estate planning.

The New York Times

"People are beginning to start thinking that the Pittsburgh Penguins can make the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup.

The New York Times - Sports

Fifth, inland areas is beginning to start to get into the rain and tropical storm force winds.

The Guardian

"He expects himself to get there probably quicker than he is probably going to get there," Thurman said, adding, "He's beginning to start to put it together".

The New York Times - Sports

Mr Hicks said many of the families were "only just beginning" to start looking at the 400,000 documents now the enormity of Wednesday's disclosures was sinking in.

Independent

This is a historic moment that we are now beginning to start the work," said Dawn Lavell-Harvard of the Native Women's Association of Canada.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Volunteers have begun to start clearing the sites.

Independent

From there, I was really able to begin to start my story.

The New Yorker

Research in Indian art began to start where it once stopped: at the modern era.

The New York Times - Arts

"People should begin to start absorbing that and thinking about that".

The New York Times

Easing Dempsey out of the captaincy around now perhaps begins to start that process.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While understandable, consider using just "beginning" or "starting" to avoid redundancy and create a more concise sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "beginning to start" in formal writing. Choose either "beginning" or "start" to maintain a professional tone and prevent repetitive language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "beginning to start" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the initiation of an action or process. Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as usable, though often redundant, in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "beginning to start" is used to indicate the start of an action or process. Although Ludwig AI considers it usable, it's important to recognize that it's grammatically redundant. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Wiki sources. For clearer and more concise writing, it is generally recommended to use simply "beginning" or "starting" instead. These alternatives provide the same meaning without the unnecessary repetition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

commencing to start

Replaces "beginning" with its synonym "commencing", maintaining the redundancy but altering the word choice.

starting to begin

Swaps the order of "beginning" and "start", keeping the redundant structure.

initiating the start

Uses the formal term "initiating" for "beginning" and keeps the term "start".

starting

Simplifies the phrase to just "starting", removing the redundancy entirely and focusing on the action of commencement.

beginning

Uses only "beginning", streamlining the expression to its core meaning of initiating something.

commencing

A more formal synonym for "beginning", removing the redundant "start".

getting underway

Replaces the initial action with a more idiomatic expression, losing some directness but gaining fluency.

taking off

Uses a more metaphorical expression for beginning, implying a strong and rapid start.

in the initial phase

Focuses on the stage of commencement rather than the action itself, changing the emphasis.

at the starting point

Highlights the initial position or location, rather than the act of beginning.

FAQs

Is "beginning to start" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "beginning to start" is considered redundant. It's better to use either "beginning" or "start" to avoid unnecessary repetition.

What's a better way to say "beginning to start"?

You can simplify it to just "beginning" or "starting". This eliminates the redundancy and makes your writing more concise.

When is it okay to use "beginning to start"?

In informal conversation, "beginning to start" might be acceptable, but it's best to avoid it in formal writing. For a stronger, more precise sentence, opt for "beginning" or "starting".

What's the difference between "beginning to start" and "starting to begin"?

Both "beginning to start" and "starting to begin" are redundant. They have the same meaning and are best replaced with a single word like "beginning" or "starting".