believe started to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "believe started to" is not correct and does not form a coherent expression in written English.
It may be intended to convey a sense of beginning to believe something, but it lacks clarity and grammatical structure. Example: "I believe I started to understand the concept after the lecture."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The role developed over time and I believe started to hit its straps as the allocated time came to an end, with the GPs becoming more used to using me as an information source.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The backpacking trip had been planned with a friend for years and the pair spent most of 2002 in Europe; while Higgins was travelling, "All for Believing" started to receive airplay on Los Angeles radio station KCRW.

Wikipedia

I was left with hours to imagine, pretend, make believe, and started to write stories on scrap paper.

Huffington Post

But Alan Krueger, chairman of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisors, believes things started to change in the 1980s.

BBC

And then, as the months went by, being a part of We Believe You started to matter more.

Huffington Post

"And when Purvis, who doesn't believe that, starts to go against his native self, it's disastrous".

The New York Times

He finds such songs more difficult to write but believes he has started to do so.

Wikipedia

I started to believe again.

The Guardian

"That's when we started to believe".

The New York Times - Sports

And I started to believe it.

The Guardian

But somewhere, they started to believe.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "believe started to" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "began to believe" or "started believing".

Common error

Don't combine "believe" in its base form with "started to". Use the gerund form "believing" after "started to", or rephrase using "began to believe."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "believe started to" is an incorrect construction. The correct forms are typically "started believing" or "began to believe". This construction aims to express the beginning of a belief.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

25%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "believe started to" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is not a coherent expression in written English. Instead, consider using alternatives such as "began to believe" or "started believing". While the sources where this phrase appears are relatively authoritative, the grammatical error significantly impacts its usability. This analysis highlights the importance of accurate verb conjugation and sentence structure for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

began to believe

Replaces "started to" with "began to", offering a more standard and grammatically sound alternative.

started believing

Changes the verb form to a gerund, resulting in a grammatically correct and common expression.

came to believe

Implies a gradual process of forming a belief, similar to "started to believe".

began believing

A more concise form, replacing "started to" with "began" and using a gerund.

started to think

Shifts the focus from belief to thought, suitable if the context involves considering an idea.

started having faith

Emphasizes faith or trust, useful in contexts where belief is tied to conviction.

grew to believe

Suggests a gradual development of belief over time.

started to suspect

Indicates a beginning of suspicion or doubt, a weaker form of belief.

turned believer

Describes a conversion or shift in belief, often from non-belief to belief.

eventually believed

Emphasizes the eventual outcome of believing, after a period of doubt or uncertainty.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "believe started to" that are grammatically correct?

Instead of "believe started to", you can use phrases like "began to believe" or "started believing", which are grammatically sound.

Is "believe started to" considered proper English?

No, "believe started to" is not considered proper English. It's better to use more standard phrases such as "came to believe" or "grew to believe".

How can I use "begin to believe" correctly in a sentence?

Use "begin to believe" to indicate the start of forming a belief. For example, "I began to believe in myself after the positive feedback."

What's the difference between "started to believe" and "started believing"?

Both "started to believe" and "started believing" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "Started believing" is slightly more concise.