commenced to have

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "commenced to have" is not correct in standard written English.
It is generally not used in formal writing, as "commenced" typically pairs with a gerund or an infinitive without "to." Example: "He commenced having doubts about the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

If so, then the innate motor programming that is responsible for the production of stereotyped food begging calls in female juveniles may be close to what existed before hearing commenced to have an effect on vocal ontogeny.

Plosone

She lost ambulation at 37 years and at 39 years has commenced to have respiratory difficulties (Table  1).

Acta neuropathologica communications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As we reached the tanks, however, the Boche hailed shrapnel upon us and we commenced rapidly to have casualties…  Up the road we staggered, shells bursting around us.

Independent

Talks have commenced to bring an end to the civil war in Syria that has killed more than 100,000 and forced almost 2.4 million men, women and children to flee the country, while millions more have been displaced internally.

The Guardian - Opinion

Various biologics and RTKIs have entered clinical trials in solid malignancies but no specific HNC trials have commenced to date [116].

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Finally, studies have commenced to examine what, if any, differences are present in the selection lines with regards to rumen anatomy, physiology and microbiology.

Animal

Pilot studies have commenced to assess arsenic and other toxic metal (such as lead, cadmium, and copper) in toenail and whole blood samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry [ 18].

European Journal of Epidemiology

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

The Guardian

"He was one of those men who could talk articulately about anything -- food or movies or music or current events -- but you could discern in the middle of his conversation that he had commenced to brood about something else that was not making its way into the mix.

The New York Times - Books

In 2008 09, the broadening of NH 10 had commenced to promote defence and economic growth in Sikkim.

Applied Water Science

A lot of arms and ammunition were recovered and "a massive cordon and search has commenced to locate any of the fleeing terrorists or hostages in their custody", he said.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for clearer and more common alternatives such as "began to have" or "started to have" to ensure your writing is easily understood and grammatically sound.

Common error

Be mindful of using outdated or uncommon constructions. While "commenced" can be a valid choice, pairing it with "to have" creates an awkward phrasing that can be easily avoided by using more modern alternatives such as "began to have" or "started to have".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "commenced to have" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the beginning of an action or state. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, this construction is not standard and considered grammatically incorrect in modern English. It aims to express the initiation of possessing or experiencing something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "commenced to have" aims to express the beginning of an action or experience, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically non-standard and somewhat awkward in modern English. It appears infrequently, primarily in scientific and news contexts. For clearer and more effective writing, it's best to replace "commenced to have" with alternatives like "began to have" or "started to have". Opting for these alternatives ensures that your writing is both grammatically sound and easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

began to have

This alternative replaces "commenced" with the more common and simpler verb "began".

started to have

Similar to "began to have", this substitutes "commenced" with "started", another frequently used verb.

initiated having

This option uses the gerund form "having" after "initiated", which is grammatically sound.

started experiencing

This alternative focuses on the experience or sensation, replacing "have" with "experiencing".

began experiencing

Similar to the above, but using "began" instead of "started".

initiated to experience

It uses "initiated" and 'to experience' to indicate the beginning of an experience.

began to develop

This focuses on the development aspect, replacing the more general "have" with "develop".

started developing

Similar to the above, using "started" in place of "began".

commenced having

This removes the "to" and uses the gerund form, making the phrase grammatically correct.

launched into having

This alternative adds a sense of suddenness or intensity to the commencement.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "commenced to have"?

Instead of "commenced to have", you can use phrases like "began to have", "started to have", or "initiated having", which are more common and grammatically correct.

Is it grammatically correct to say "commenced to have"?

While not strictly incorrect, "commenced to have" is considered an outdated and awkward construction. It's better to use alternatives like "began to have" or "started to have".

When is it appropriate to use "commenced to have"?

Given that the phrase is perceived as stilted or awkward by modern readers, it's best to avoid using "commenced to have" in contemporary writing. Opt for more straightforward alternatives.

What's the difference between "commenced to have" and "commenced having"?

"Commenced having" is grammatically sound, using a gerund form after "commenced", indicating the beginning of an action. "Commenced to have", on the other hand, is an uncommon and somewhat awkward construction that is best avoided.