did not start

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "did not start" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something failed to begin or commence as expected or planned. Example: "The meeting did not start on time due to technical difficulties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Lee did not start.

The New York Times - Sports

It did not start again.

The New Yorker

It did not start well.

The Economist

We did not start this.

The Guardian - Opinion

Leopold did not start genocide.

The Guardian

He did not start tonight.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

"He didn't start well".

The New Yorker

We didn't start it".

The New York Times

I didn't start this.

Stanford University

It didn't start well.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"We didn't start great.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "did not start", ensure the context clearly indicates what was expected to begin but didn't. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "did not started". The correct form is "did not start", as 'did' already indicates the past tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not start" functions as a verb phrase indicating the non-commencement of an action or event. It is widely used to negate the beginning of something, as confirmed by Ludwig, which classifies the phrase as correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

20%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "did not start" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to indicate the absence of commencement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability. Its neutral tone makes it suitable for diverse contexts, including news, academic writing, and everyday conversation. While alternatives like "failed to begin" or "never commenced" exist, "did not start" remains a clear and frequently used option for expressing the lack of initiation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to begin

Emphasizes the lack of initiation, highlighting an unsuccessful attempt or inability to commence.

never commenced

Focuses on the complete absence of commencement, suggesting a permanent state of non-initiation.

did not commence

A more formal alternative, highlighting the absence of the act of beginning.

never initiated

Stresses the lack of initiation, implying a deliberate or formal action that was not taken.

refrained from starting

Highlights a conscious decision to not begin something.

held back from beginning

Indicates a hesitation or impediment preventing the start.

did not get underway

Focuses on the failure to launch or progress beyond initial stages.

was not inaugurated

Suggests a formal or official commencement that did not occur.

did not kick off

An informal alternative, indicating the absence of a beginning or launch.

bypassed the starting point

Implies that the initial phase or stage was skipped or avoided.

FAQs

How can I use "did not start" in a sentence?

You can use "did not start" to indicate that something was expected to begin but did not, such as, "The meeting "did not start" on time" or "He "did not start" the project as planned".

What are some alternatives to "did not start"?

Alternatives to "did not start" include "failed to begin", "never commenced", or "did not initiate", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "did not started"?

No, "did not started" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""did not start"". The auxiliary verb "did" already indicates past tense, so the main verb should be in its base form.

What is the difference between "did not start" and "failed to start"?

"Did not start" simply indicates that something didn't begin. "Failed to start" suggests there was an attempt or expectation of beginning, but it was unsuccessful.