begins to take effect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "begins to take effect" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to the moment something starts to have an impact or influence, such as a law, medication, or policy. Example: "The new regulations begin to take effect next month." Alternative expressions include "starts to have an impact" and "comes into effect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

The treatments take about five minutes to administer, and often it's a week or two until the Botox begins to take effect.

The New York Times

Israeli factories based in settlements on the West Bank have been forced to cut back production as a growing Palestinian boycott movement begins to take effect.

The Guardian

As the Medicare expansion into prescription drugs begins to take effect, the cost is estimated at about $33 billion in 2006, with increases every year after that.

The New York Times

It will seethe even more, if and when reforms begin to bite especially if a recently enacted bankruptcy law begins to take effect.

The Economist

("Good Day dear friend, I am Lamido Sanusi, governor of the central bank of the newly rebased west African nation of Nigeria…") And you just wait to see what will happen as the rebasing placebo begins to take effect in the government's bloodstream.

The Guardian

As full-blown competition begins to take effect, the old guard is feeling terribly insecure.In this section European telecoms in a tangle Kingfisher's new song The bubbles pop The beauty of being Telmex Rosen cavalier Bertelsmann's big leap ReprintsAnd with good reason.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

After the Phenergan began to take effect, I drifted off.

The New York Times - Magazine

And that will begin to take effect next year.

The Washington Post

It would begin to take effect in July.

The New York Times

The plan began to take effect last week and will take many months to complete.

The New York Times

As the drug began to take effect, Sim became irrational and started to thrash around.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "begins to take effect" when you want to emphasize the initial stage of an action or policy producing a noticeable result or impact. It's particularly useful when describing processes with a delayed or gradual impact.

Common error

Avoid using "begins to take effect" when describing immediate or instantaneous results. This phrase is best suited for situations where the effect develops over time, not those with an immediate outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "begins to take effect" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the commencement of an action or process resulting in a tangible outcome or influence. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is used to describe something starting to produce results or have an impact.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

26%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "begins to take effect" is a versatile phrase used to describe the onset of an action's influence or impact, as confirmed by Ludwig. Grammatically sound and commonly used, it's suitable for neutral to formal contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. While interchangeable with alternatives like "starts to be effective", it uniquely emphasizes the initial phase of a gradual process. Remember to reserve it for scenarios where effects unfold over time, avoiding its use for instantaneous outcomes. The diversity of authoritative sources using this phrase underscores its reliability and broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

starts to be effective

Focuses on effectiveness rather than the process of taking effect.

starts to operate

Emphasizes the operational aspect of something beginning.

starts to function

Highlights the functionality initiating.

starts to kick in

More informal; suggests a quicker, more noticeable start.

becomes operative

More formal; describes something officially starting.

commences to influence

Focuses specifically on the start of influence.

starts showing results

Highlights the initial signs of impact or outcome.

starts having an impact

Emphasizes the effect or influence being initiated.

starts exerting influence

Highlights the active exertion of influence from the beginning.

starts unfolding

Suggests a gradual and developing start of an effect.

FAQs

How can I use "begins to take effect" in a sentence?

You can use "begins to take effect" to describe the initial stage of something producing a noticeable result. For example, "The new policy "begins to take effect" next month."

What are some alternatives to "begins to take effect"?

Some alternatives include "starts to be effective", "starts to operate", or "starts to kick in", depending on the desired level of formality and the specific context.

Which is correct: "begins to take effect" or "begins to affect"?

"Begins to take effect" indicates the start of something producing a result, whereas "begins to affect" means something starts to have an influence. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "begins to take effect" and "comes into effect"?

"Begins to take effect" implies the initial phase of an impact, suggesting a gradual process. "Comes into effect" indicates the moment something becomes operational or legally binding.