classes have started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "classes have started" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to inform someone that the scheduled classes for a course or program have begun. Example: "Just a reminder that classes have started, so make sure to check your schedule for the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The political classes have started doing it too.

The Guardian - Tech

"Everywhere in our societies, the lower middle classes have started to doubt," he said.

The Guardian

But, overall, the game has calmed down so much that the middle classes have started to pour through the turnstiles.

The Economist

Opponents of the yoga classes have started an online petition to remove the course from the district's curriculum.

The New York Times

Small evening classes have started at the N. Y. Schoolof Baseball, and a National Girls's Baseball League will go into operation in the spring.

The New Yorker

Although classes have started and September is here, it's still doggone hot outside.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

In Homs, parents said that classes had started in only a few schools; in one private school, the families living there simply moved to an upper floor.

The New York Times

Enrollment numbers in these deep learning classes has started to explode even though the deep learning classes have existed for a while, this is quite new.

Forbes

Around this time, having virtually achieved the vision of giving everyone access to unlimited fitness classes had started to turn ugly.

TechCrunch

The very group that the mainstream party groomed, paid, and empowered (disproportionately the white working class and struggling lower middle class) have started to figure out that people like Mitt Romney who dedicated his entire professional career to stripping wealth from them and giving it to the investor class don't really have their interests at heart.

Huffington Post

The difference in England now has less to do with the loss of power abroad than with the fact that a whole new class has started demanding to run the country at home.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When announcing that "classes have started", specify the date or week they began to provide clarity and context for the audience.

Common error

Avoid using past perfect tense (e.g., "classes had started") when simply stating that classes are now in session. Use present perfect ("classes have started") for current relevance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "classes have started" functions as a statement indicating the commencement of scheduled academic or training sessions. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in diverse contexts, from school notifications to university updates, confirming its role as a declarative phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

37%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "classes have started" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate the commencement of scheduled academic or training sessions. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to inform an audience, and it maintains a generally neutral register applicable across various settings, including academic, news, and formal business contexts. While alternatives like "courses have begun" exist, the original phrase is clear and widely understood. When using this phrase, it is best practice to include specific dates or weeks to provide extra clarity and prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

courses have begun

Uses a synonym for "classes" and a different verb tense to indicate the start of the courses.

lessons have commenced

Replaces "classes" with "lessons" and "started" with "commenced", providing a more formal tone.

the term has commenced

Focuses on the academic term rather than individual classes, indicating the beginning of the academic period.

the semester is underway

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the semester after its initiation.

sessions have initiated

Uses a more formal term, "sessions", instead of "classes", and "initiated" instead of "started".

lectures are now in progress

Focuses on lectures specifically, indicating that they are currently happening.

instruction has commenced

A formal way of saying teaching or instruction has begun.

the academic year has begun

Broadens the scope to the entire academic year, marking its start.

study sessions are ongoing

Emphasizes that the study sessions have been initiated and they are still in progress.

training programs are underway

Emphasizes that training programs are ongoing.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "classes have started" in a formal setting?

In a formal setting, you could use phrases like "courses have begun" or "instruction has commenced".

What's a more casual way to say "classes have started"?

Informally, you might say "things are underway" or simply, "we're off!"

Is it correct to say "classes had started" instead of "classes have started"?

The phrase "classes had started" implies that the classes began before a specific point in the past, whereas "classes have started" indicates that they began in the past and are ongoing or relevant now.

What is the best way to announce that "classes have started" to students?

You can announce it with a message like: "Just a reminder that "classes have started", so make sure to check your schedule for the week."