commenced about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "commenced about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the starting time or date of an event or action, often when the exact time is not known. Example: "The meeting commenced about 10 AM, but some attendees arrived later."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Building commenced about 1632.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Modern irrigation engineering work commenced about 1850, and, during the period of British administration, large canal systems were constructed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His arrest neatly accomplished, an intense debate commenced about what to do with him: should he be tried by civil court or military commission?

The New York Times

The Zagros orogeny commenced about 20 Ma, and when the Zagros trend fold had not been completely formed (before about 20-8 Ma), parts of the Kazhdumi source bed of the Dezful Embayment reached the oil window and expelled low-maturity heavy crude oil.

Petroleum Science

The promised Italian intervention commenced about midday, and about 100 trucks of Italian soldiers arrived in Gacko about 17:00.

Wikipedia

Their attack commenced about 10 00, and although they faced strong resistance from the rebels, aided by strafing and bombing by ZNDH aircraft, they reached villages on the outskirts of Nevesinje after fighting that lasted until dawn on 28 June.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Battle should now commence about what the new world should look like.

The Guardian - Opinion

The all-night ceremony usually commences about 8 pm Saturday and is led by a peyote "chief".

Encyclopedia Britannica

On 18 January, a problem with the computers aboard Mir developed shortly before fuelling of the Soyuz-U rocket was scheduled to commence, about five and a half hours before the launch was due to occur.

Wikipedia

One is that where data were collected beyond 1 year, weight regain begins, commencing about that time.

Diabetes Care

The first of these projects, commenced after about 1235, focused on works by the theologian, John of Damascus.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For increased clarity, especially in formal writing, consider specifying the unit of time being approximated, such as "commenced about two weeks ago" or "commenced about the same time".

Common error

While acceptable, consistently using "commenced about" in formal writing can sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "initiated approximately" or "began around" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "commenced about" functions as a temporal indicator, specifying an approximate starting point for an event or activity. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is considered grammatically correct. The examples show its use in various contexts to denote when something began.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "commenced about" is used to indicate an approximate starting time or date. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and primarily found in scientific, news, and encyclopedia contexts. While not exceedingly common, it serves the purpose of conveying a rough timeframe. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "started approximately". While "commenced about" is acceptable, varying your phrasing can enhance the readability and style of your writing. It is important to use "commenced about" only when the exact starting time isn't known or isn't that important, and it's ok to use the phrase but keep in mind not to overuse it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

began around

Replaces "commenced" with "began" and "about" with "around", maintaining a similar level of approximation.

started approximately

Substitutes "commenced" with "started" and uses "approximately" instead of "about", offering a slightly more formal tone.

initiated around

Employs "initiated" in place of "commenced", implying a more formal start, while keeping "around" for approximation.

began at approximately

Uses "began" instead of "commenced" and "at approximately" to specify a point in time, maintaining the sense of approximation.

kicked off roughly

Replaces "commenced" with the more informal "kicked off" and "about" with "roughly", indicating a casual approximation.

got underway around

Substitutes "commenced" with "got underway", suggesting a process beginning, and keeps "around" for approximation.

started in the vicinity of

Replaces "commenced" with "started" and "about" with "in the vicinity of", indicating a general area of time.

was launched around

Uses "launched" as a substitute for "commenced," implying an initial start, and keeps "around" for approximation.

came into being circa

Employs "came into being" instead of "commenced" and "circa" in place of "about", offering a more historical or formal tone.

originated at around

Replaces "commenced" with "originated" and "about" with "around", suggesting the beginning of something's existence or development.

FAQs

How can I use "commenced about" in a sentence?

You can use "commenced about" to indicate the approximate starting time of an event or activity. For instance, "The project "commenced about" two weeks ago", meaning it started roughly around that time.

What are some alternatives to saying "commenced about"?

Alternatives to "commenced about" include phrases like "began around", "started approximately", or "initiated around", depending on the level of formality you need.

Is it more appropriate to say "commenced about" or "commenced approximately"?

"Commenced approximately" is slightly more formal than ""commenced about"". The choice depends on the context and the desired tone. "Commenced approximately" may be preferred in academic or professional writing.

What's the difference between "commenced about" and "commenced at"?

"Commenced at" indicates a specific start time, while ""commenced about"" indicates an approximate start time. For example, "The meeting commenced at 9 AM" specifies the exact time, whereas "The meeting commenced about 9 AM" suggests it started around that time.