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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
commenced making
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"commenced making" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when indicating the start of an action or process. Example: "She commenced making dinner as soon as she got home." Alternative expressions include "began making" and "started making."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Encyclopedias
Science
Wiki
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
5 human-written examples
He commenced making his avatar leap from platform to platform, as he sought to "de-rez" his opponent by throwing disks at him.
News & Media
About 1450, European astronomers commenced making fairly accurate measurements of the time of day or night when eclipses occurred, and this pursuit spread rapidly following the invention of the telescope.
Encyclopedias
By the time he'd got to Barcelona he had parlayed that 'title' into becoming European Champion (much of Europe being busy elsewhere in the spring of 1916…) and commenced making a living as a boxing instructor at the city's Marine Club.
News & Media
We commenced making idiotic faces at each other.
News & Media
After he was done telling her he wanted this to be the "perfect party," she walked over to us and commenced making small talk, telling us her name was Daisy.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
55 human-written examples
It will be hardest of all to create a 3D form that moves for a constantly running filming but it can be done if you are ingenious in your thinking about ways to make the monsters move about (e.g., perhaps on matchboxes with small wheels pulled along by a string etc).. Commence making a movie using your monster.
Wiki
When two subjects begin making sketches, concrete planning may have commenced.
News & Media
"Early indications are that a car driver stopped his vehicle on the crossing before the barrier sequence commenced and made no attempt to leave the vehicle once the crossing traffic signals began to flash and the barriers descended," the report said.
News & Media
Many years before Grosseteste composed his translations of the Nicomachean Ethics and De caelo, he had been deeply engaged in the study of Aristotle's views on scientific knowledge and natural philosophy, and had composed a commentary on the Posterior Analytics and commenced and made substantial progress on a commentary on the Physics.
Science
The next morning, I opened "The American Craft Beer Cookbook" to page 10, laid it on the kitchen counter and commenced to make Scotch Egg.
News & Media
Recruitment to the study and completion of the baseline survey commenced in January 2006, making this the latest date where all participants would uniformly have the opportunity to self-report a diagnosis of breast cancer.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Ensure the gerund "making" follows immediately without a preposition if you want to emphasize the action itself rather than the process.
Common error
Writers often use "commenced making" in casual settings where it sounds unnaturally stiff. If you are writing a blog post or an email to a colleague, stick to "started making" or "began making" to maintain a natural flow.
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
4.7/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "commenced making" functions as a transitive verb phrase where the verb "commence" takes a gerund phrase as its direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a grammatically valid construction, commonly used to denote the initiation of a creative or physical task.
Frequent in
News & Media
40%
Science
30%
Encyclopedias
15%
Less common in
Wiki
10%
Academia
3%
Formal & Business
2%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "commenced making" is a highly formal and sophisticated way to say "started making". While it is less frequent than its synonyms in everyday speech, Ludwig AI verifies its correctness across a variety of authoritative domains, including Science and News & Media. It is most effective when used in contexts that require precision or a serious tone, such as historical records or academic findings. Writers should be mindful of the formal register it carries and opt for simpler alternatives like "began making" in more casual or conversational environments to ensure clarity and naturalness.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
began making
A more common and versatile alternative suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
started making
The most standard and informal way to express the beginning of an activity.
commenced to make
Uses the infinitive form instead of the gerund, which is also correct but slightly more archaic.
initiated making
Uses a more technical or administrative verb, often used in business or project management.
set about making
Emphasizes the intent and effort involved in starting a task.
commenced with making
Includes a preposition to transition into the action, though less direct.
proceeded to make
Highlights a chronological sequence of events.
embarked on making
Suggests the start of a significant or long-term project.
undertook making
Implies taking responsibility for the creation of something.
began to produce
Replaces making with a more formal synonym, often used in manufacturing or creative contexts.
FAQs
Is it correct to use "commenced making" in a sentence?
Yes, it is perfectly correct. As noted by Ludwig AI, it combines a formal verb with a gerund to indicate the start of a process. For example: "The astronomers "commenced making" measurements."
What is the difference between "commenced making" and "commenced to make"?
Both are grammatically acceptable. However, "commenced making" (gerund) is more common in modern usage, while "commenced to make" (infinitive) can feel slightly more old-fashioned.
Can I use "commenced making" in an academic paper?
Absolutely. It is an excellent choice for academic or scientific writing. You might also consider "initiated making" or "began the production of" for variety.
Is "commenced making" too formal for fiction?
It depends on the character or narrator. In fiction, it can be used to convey a character's pretension or to set a historical or very serious tone. For general narration, "started making" is usually preferred.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
4.7/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested