commenced with

USAGE SUMMARY

"commenced with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the beginning of an action or event. For example: "We commenced with our usual morning meditation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The first period then commenced with Vasilevskiy between the pipes.

The Guardian - Sport

To this end, discussions have commenced with TEG's largest shareholders.

The Guardian - Business

The album commenced with a solo blues number.

The New Yorker

It commenced with him lodged in the Colorado Rockies' lineup.

The New York Times - Sports

The Western whining commenced with the NBC announcers, who were practically hysterical.

The New York Times - Sports

Barbara's career commenced with Hearst Publications and Louis de Rochemont's March of Time.

The New York Times

Even so, she recalls, the show commenced with a centuries-old trick – a disappearing gag.

The Guardian

And every year that service has commenced with a demonstration of respiratory virtuosity by Swami Bua.

The New Yorker

The firm then installed the temporary iron props and commenced with repairs.

The New York Times

At 10 a.m. the fighting commenced with a barrage of artillery fire.

The New York Times

The roughly twenty-year U.S. occupations of both Haiti and the Dominican Republic commenced with invasions from Guantánamo.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "commenced with" to indicate the formal beginning of a process, event, or activity, particularly in professional or academic contexts. For example: "The experiment commenced with the introduction of the catalyst."

Common error

While "commenced with" is correct, avoid overusing it in informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "began with" or "started with" are often more appropriate for everyday communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "commenced with" functions as a verb phrase followed by a preposition, indicating the initiation or beginning of an action, event, or process. According to Ludwig, it is used to describe the start of something, as evidenced in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "commenced with" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that serves to formally indicate the start of an event, process, or activity. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is suitable for professional, academic, and journalistic contexts. While simpler alternatives like "began with" or "started with" exist, "commenced with" adds a touch of formality. It appears most often in scientific and news-related sources, with a lower frequency in more informal settings. Therefore, consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing when choosing between "commenced with" and its alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

began with

Uses a more common and simpler verb, 'began', to convey the same meaning.

started with

Replaces "commenced" with "started", offering a more casual alternative.

initiated with

Employs "initiated", which is similar in formality to "commenced" but with a slightly different nuance of introducing something new.

opened with

Suggests a formal beginning, like a presentation or event.

launched with

Implies a more active and purposeful start, often used for projects or campaigns.

inaugurated with

Presents a more formal and ceremonial start.

led off with

An idiomatic expression meaning to begin, often used in sports or entertainment contexts.

kicked off with

An informal idiom for starting something, typically an event or project.

originated with

Focuses on the origin or source of something, rather than just its beginning.

arose from

Indicates that something started as a result of something else.

FAQs

What does "commenced with" mean?

"Commenced with" means to begin or start something, often in a formal or official context. It indicates the initial stage or starting point of an activity, process, or event.

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

You can use "commenced with" to describe the beginning of an event or action, like "The meeting "began with" a review of the previous quarter's performance." Or, "The project "started with" a detailed planning phase."

What are some alternatives to "commenced with"?

Alternatives to "commenced with" include "began with", "started with", "initiated with", and "opened with". The best choice depends on the context and the desired level of formality.

Is "commenced with" appropriate for informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "commenced with" is generally more suited for formal writing. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "began with" or "started with" are often preferable.