begun on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "begun on" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "began on" when referring to the start of an action in the past. Example: "The project began on January 1st."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is already behind schedule, and no work has begun on a railroad yet.

The New York Times

Kalup Linzy's career has been one of countless begun on the Internet.

The New York Times - Arts

It had begun on Dec. 8.

The New Yorker

Work has begun on harmonising statistics.

The Economist

Construction has begun on new freeways.

The New York Times

Construction has begun on two others.

The New York Times

Sales have begun on the second tower.

The New York Times

Broadcasts were to have begun on Thursday.

The New York Times - Arts

Work has now begun on four new plants.

The New York Times

Construction has begun on an adjacent Thompson residence tower.

The New York Times - Travel

Work was begun on the Cathedral in 1891.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "began on" instead of "begun on" when referring to a past event. "Began" is the simple past tense of "begin", while "begun" is the past participle and requires an auxiliary verb (e.g., "has begun").

Common error

Avoid using the past participle "begun" without a helping verb such as "has", "have", or "had" when you intend to express a simple past action. The correct form is "began".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "begun on" functions as part of a verb phrase aiming to indicate when an action or event commenced. However, Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "began on".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

34%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "begun on" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "began on". While Ludwig identifies numerous instances of its usage across various sources, including News & Media and Science, its incorrectness impacts its reliability and expert rating. It's crucial to use "began" (simple past) instead of "begun" (past participle) to accurately indicate the commencement of an event in the past. Alternatives like "started on" or "commenced on" can also be used depending on the context and desired level of formality. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, adhering to correct grammar ensures clarity and credibility in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

started on

This alternative uses a more common and generally acceptable verb to indicate the beginning of something.

commenced on

This alternative uses a more formal verb to express the beginning of an event or activity.

initiated on

This alternative implies a formal or official start to something.

launched on

This suggests a more proactive or assertive start.

inaugurated on

This implies a formal or ceremonial beginning.

was initiated on

This rephrasing uses a passive voice to describe when something was initiated.

was launched on

This rephrasing uses a passive voice to describe when something was launched.

got underway on

This idiom suggests the beginning of a process or journey.

kicked off on

This idiom suggests an informal and energetic beginning.

saw its beginning on

This alternative is a more descriptive and literary way to indicate the start of something.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "began" and "begun" in a sentence?

"Began" is the simple past tense of "begin", used to describe an action that started and finished in the past (e.g., "The meeting began at 9 AM"). "Begun" is the past participle, requiring a helping verb (e.g., "The project has begun").

What is the difference between "began on" and "started on"?

Both "began on" and "started on" indicate the commencement of an event or activity on a specific date or time. "Started on" is generally considered more informal, while "began on" is slightly more formal, although both are acceptable. You can also consider alternatives like "commenced on".

Is it ever correct to use "begun on" in a sentence?

No, "begun on" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "began on". For example, "The course began on Monday."

What are some alternatives to saying "the project began on Monday"?

You could say "the project "started on" Monday", "the project "commenced on" Monday", or "the project was "initiated on" Monday."