commences at

USAGE SUMMARY

"commences at" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate the starting time of an event or activity. Example: "The meeting commences at 10 AM." Alternative expressions include "starts at," "begins at," and "kicks off at."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hacking commences at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

The New York Times

The "swoop" commences at noon today.

The Guardian

7. The Showcase commences at 00.01am on 27 July 2015 and closes at 11.59pm on 14 April 2016.

The Guardian

The agreement commences at the start of the 2015-16 seandn and ends Nike's 13-year relationship with United.

The Guardian - Sport

THE 87th Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest commences at noon today, and if you feel it a patriotic duty to wager on the Americans, don't.

The New York Times

So, that's it, a six-hour journey that commences at the Fat Duck and concludes with you feeling like a fat schmuck.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Sundance film festival, hosted in Park City, Utah, commences at the end of January; the 86th Academy Awards beckon in early March.

The Economist

It commences at the lower part of the tail of the epididymis and ascends along the back border of the testis to its upper pole.

Encyclopedia Britannica

United's agreement with the company commences at the start of the 2015-16 seandn and ends Nike's 13-year relationship with the club, although United will still be wearing their Nike shirts during their summer tour of the US.

The Guardian - Sport

The boozing commences (at an ungodly early hour) and the party animals spend pages and pages terrorizing shopkeepers, beachgoers and casino frequenters by yanking off hats and clothes, stealing money and pilfering food and drink.

The New York Times - Books

His historic venture commences at 2 P.M. on Manhattan's Pier 11 for a warmup aboard the free Ikea ferry to Red Hook and continues in earnest in bars, parks, and bookstores in the Brooklyn neighborhood.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "commences at" to denote a formal or officially recognized starting time or point. It adds a touch of sophistication to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "commences at" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "starts at" or "begins at" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "commences at" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun to specify the starting point or time. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "commences at" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that specifies the starting point of an event or process. According to Ludwig, it is commonly found in News & Media and Science. While "commences at" adds a touch of formality, it's best to reserve it for professional writing. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of the phrase, and simpler alternatives like "begins at" or "starts at" may be more appropriate in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

begins at

This is a direct synonym, replacing "commences" with the more common "begins".

starts at

Similar to "begins at", this uses "starts" as a synonym for "commences".

initiates at

This alternative replaces "commences" with "initiates", implying a formal start or process activation.

kicks off at

This is a more informal synonym, suggesting the beginning of an event.

opens at

This phrase can be used when referring to the start of a business or event.

gets underway at

This phrase means that an event starts.

is scheduled to begin at

This alternative includes the element of time schedule.

is set to start at

This alternative includes the element of time schedule.

the starting point is at

This phrase introduces an explicit subject: the starting point.

the launch is at

This phrase refers to an event launch or start.

FAQs

What does "commences at" mean?

"Commences at" means to begin or start at a specific time or location. It is a more formal way of saying "starts at" or "begins at".

How to use "commences at" in a sentence?

You can use "commences at" to indicate when an event, activity, or process is scheduled to start. For example, "The meeting "commences at" 10 AM".

What can I say instead of "commences at"?

You can use alternatives like "begins at", "starts at", or "kicks off at" depending on the context.

Is "commences at" formal or informal?

"Commences at" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "starts at" or "begins at". Use it when a more sophisticated tone is desired.