commenced to decline

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "commenced to decline" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that something has started to decrease or diminish, but it is more typical to use simpler phrases. Example: "The company's profits commenced to decline after the new competitor entered the market."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The onset of ripening began on August 3rd when sugars started to accumulate and acidity commenced to decline.

BMC Genomics

In Australia generally, smoking prevalence more than halved after 1980 and recently commenced to decline among Australia's disadvantaged Indigenous peoples.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The wolves commenced to sing.

The Guardian

Then he commenced to pace.

The New York Times

I commenced to perambulate away, but I felt so awful.

The New Yorker

The search has commenced to find this year's culinary connoisseurs.

The Guardian

She now commenced to practise her husband's precepts.

The Guardian - Opinion

I commenced to walk backward...

Huffington Post

Newly diagnosed HIV patients were encouraged to initiate ART as soon as possible except where patients were too ill to commence treatment or declined initiation of ART.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Commenced to take out our guns".

The New York Times - Books

I talked to the basketball player, looking up at him until my neck hurt, inquiring unremittingly about the shot he had missed a couple of decades ago, the shot that had deprived his team of the national title and, I let him know, commenced the general decline of Sarajevo.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common and modern alternatives like "began to decline" or "started to decrease" for clarity and broader acceptance, especially in less formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "commenced to decline" in casual or informal writing. This phrase can sound stilted or archaic in contemporary English. Use alternatives such as "began to decrease" or "started to fall" to achieve a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "commenced to decline" functions as a verb phrase indicating the start of a downward trend or decrease. According to Ludwig AI, it may sound awkward, suggesting the existence of better alternatives. Examples from Ludwig show its usage in scientific and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "commenced to decline" is a verb phrase used to describe the start of a decrease or downward trend. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically acceptable but may sound somewhat formal or archaic. While examples from Ludwig appear in scientific and news contexts, the phrase is not very common. More modern and accessible alternatives, such as "began to decline" or "started to decrease", are often preferred. Therefore, it's important to consider the audience and context when using this phrase, opting for simpler language in less formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Began to decrease

Replaces "commenced" with "began", a more common synonym, and "decline" with "decrease", which is slightly more specific.

Started to diminish

Substitutes "commenced" with "started" for simpler language and "decline" with "diminish" for a softer connotation of reduction.

Began to fall

Replaces the formal "commenced to decline" with the more straightforward "began to fall".

Initiated a downturn

Uses "initiated" instead of "commenced" and replaces "decline" with "downturn", shifting from a gradual decrease to a more significant negative shift.

Began its descent

Replaces "commenced to decline" with the more figurative "began its descent", implying a more dramatic or inevitable fall.

Started to wane

Substitutes "commenced" with "started" and "decline" with "wane", suggesting a decrease in power, influence, or intensity.

Entered a period of decline

Expands the phrase to emphasize the extended nature of the decline, rather than just the start.

Saw the start of a decrease

Rephrases to highlight the observation of the decrease's commencement, rather than the action itself.

Marked the onset of decline

Uses a more descriptive and slightly more formal tone to indicate the beginning of the decline.

Began to regress

Replaces "decline" with "regress", implying a return to a previous, often worse, state.

FAQs

What does "commenced to decline" mean?

The phrase "commenced to decline" means that something has started to decrease, diminish, or deteriorate. It indicates the beginning of a downward trend.

What can I say instead of "commenced to decline"?

You can use alternatives like "began to decline", "started to decrease", or "began to fall" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "commenced to decline"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct, but the phrase "commenced to decline" is not as common as alternatives. It might sound overly formal or slightly archaic to some readers.

What is the difference between "commenced to decline" and "began to decline"?

While both phrases have similar meanings, ""began to decline"" is more commonly used and generally preferred in modern English. "Commenced" is a more formal synonym for "began".