commence on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "commence on" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct usage would typically be "commence" without the preposition "on." Example: "The meeting will commence at 10 AM."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Commence on Tailing your suspicious persons for at least one week If you see him doing suspicious activity, per se "Building a bomb", Video what he/she does.

WikiHow

Play will commence on Centre Court at: just after 1pm.

The Guardian - Sport

Elsewhere, work will commence on revitalising the grass.

The Guardian - Sport

Like many people, I watched it all commence on television.

The New York Times

The new services will commence on 12 September.

Independent

Anti-Bullying Week and Road Safety Week both commence on Monday 17 November.

The Guardian

Instead, they said, "Captain's drinks commence on the upper deck at eight".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The World Series will commence on Saturday right here at Edison Field against either the Cardinals or the Giants.

The New York Times - Sports

The soccer-playing nations of the continent have come together, and the knockout stages of the contest commence on Saturday.

The New Yorker

On Wednesday, Nabil's trial was delayed for the fifth time, and is now due to commence on 14 December.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

More than 2,000 men in Australia [ 5] and more than 80,000 in the USA [ 6] commence on-going ADT for prostate cancer each year.

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "commence on" in formal writing. Opt for "commence" without the preposition, or use alternatives like "begin" or "start" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

A common mistake is adding the preposition "on" after "commence". While it might sound natural in some contexts, it's grammatically incorrect. Remember to use "commence" alone to indicate the beginning of something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "commence on" functions as a verb phrase intended to indicate the beginning or start of an event or action. However, as Ludwig AI explains, the addition of the preposition "on" after "commence" is generally considered grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

31%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

7%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "commence on" is frequently used across various sources, including news, scientific articles, and wikis, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, it's better to use "commence" without the preposition "on", or opt for more common alternatives such as "begin" or "start". The intended purpose is to indicate the start of something, but the incorrect grammar can detract from the message, especially in formal contexts. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid using "commence on" in formal writing and to prefer grammatically correct alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

begin on

Replaces "commence" with the more common "begin", maintaining the preposition "on".

start on

Substitutes "commence" with "start", another common synonym, while keeping "on".

commence

Omits the preposition "on", aligning with standard grammatical usage.

begin

Replaces "commence on" with simply "begin", which is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

initiate on

Uses "initiate" as a more formal substitute for "commence", keeping the "on".

kick off on

Offers a more informal alternative, using "kick off" to mean start, paired with "on".

embark on

Replaces "commence" with "embark", suggesting a more involved beginning.

launch on

Substitutes "commence" with "launch", implying a more significant start, while retaining "on".

get going on

Provides a colloquial alternative to "commence on", emphasizing the start of activity.

get underway on

Uses "get underway" to indicate the start of a process or journey, accompanied by "on".

FAQs

Is it correct to say "commence on"?

No, the phrase "commence on" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is to use "commence" without the preposition "on". For example, say "The meeting will commence at 10 AM" instead of "The meeting will commence on at 10 AM".

What's a more common way to say "commence"?

More common alternatives to "commence" include "begin" or "start". These are simpler and more widely used in everyday language.

When should I use "commence" instead of "begin" or "start"?

"Commence" is generally more formal than "begin" or "start". Use "commence" in formal writing or when aiming for a more sophisticated tone. However, be sure to use it without the preposition "on".

What are some alternatives to "commence on" that avoid the preposition?

If you want to avoid using the preposition, you can use phrases like "begin", "start", "initiate", or "get underway", depending on the context. Remember to omit "on" after "commence" to ensure grammatical correctness.