eager to start

USAGE SUMMARY

"eager to start" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when expressing an enthusiasm for beginning something. Example sentence: "The students were eager to start the new school year after the summer break."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Drug companies are eager to start production.

The New York Times - Science

Pennington seemed eager to start.

The New York Times - Sports

I'm eager to start this challenge!

The Guardian - Sport

I'm eager to start the new Grisham.

The New York Times - Sports

Oswald was not only eager to start over.

The New York Times

Mr. Donker van Heel said he was eager to start.

The New York Times

He said: "I'm very eager to start working with Martino.

Independent

Engineering students are often eager to start research projects.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

But I am eager to start on the work ahead.

The New York Times

Because she's so eager to start the meeting, Jasmine takes the lead as the speaker.

Huffington Post

Dr. Wright had her baby a few weeks ago and is eager to start running again.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eager to start" to convey enthusiasm and a positive attitude towards beginning a new task, project, or phase. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "eager to start" is a perfectly acceptable phrase, avoid overusing it in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "keen to begin" or "excited to initiate" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "eager to start" functions as an adjective phrase modifying an implied subject, followed by an infinitive verb phrase. As Ludwig AI indicates, this combination expresses a subject's readiness and enthusiasm towards initiating an action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

12%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "eager to start" is a grammatically sound and very commonly used phrase for expressing enthusiasm and readiness to begin something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and versatility. It's appropriate for various contexts, as evidenced by its frequent appearance in News & Media and Academic sources. While versatile, it's wise to avoid overuse and consider synonyms like "keen to begin" or "excited to initiate" to enhance writing. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its practical application across diverse scenarios, confirming its status as a valuable addition to your vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keen to begin

Replaces "eager" with "keen" and "start" with "begin", maintaining the sense of enthusiasm.

anxious to commence

Substitutes "eager" with "anxious" and "start" with "commence", adding a slightly more formal tone.

excited to initiate

Replaces "eager" with "excited" and "start" with "initiate", highlighting the feeling of excitement.

ready to launch

Focuses on the readiness and preparation aspect of starting.

enthusiastic about beginning

Uses "enthusiastic" instead of "eager" and "beginning" instead of "start", changing the structure slightly.

can't wait to get going

An idiomatic expression conveying impatience and excitement to start.

looking forward to starting

Expresses anticipation and positive expectation about starting.

itching to get underway

An informal expression indicating a strong desire to begin.

disposed to commence

Replaces eager with disposed which can give the sentence a more formal tone.

longing to initiate

Emphasizes the desire to start something, using "longing" to convey a strong feeling.

FAQs

How can I use "eager to start" in a sentence?

You can use "eager to start" to express enthusiasm about beginning something, as in "The team was eager to start the project" or "I'm eager to start my new job".

What can I say instead of "eager to start"?

You can use alternatives like "keen to begin", "anxious to commence", or "excited to initiate" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "eager to start" in a formal setting?

Yes, "eager to start" is appropriate in most formal settings. While it conveys enthusiasm, it's not overly informal. However, in extremely formal contexts, you may consider alternatives like "disposed to commence".

What's the difference between "eager to start" and "looking forward to starting"?

"Eager to start" emphasizes enthusiasm and a proactive desire to begin, while "looking forward to starting" implies anticipation and positive expectation. They are similar but have slightly different nuances.