go ahead and start

USAGE SUMMARY

"go ahead and start" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to give permission for someone to do something or to encourage them to begin an activity. For example: "Go ahead and start the presentation; I'll join you in a few minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Go ahead and start your family.

The New York Times

Really, go ahead and start speculating.

The New York Times

"We'll go ahead and start Mark this game," Ryan said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Why don't you go ahead and start," he demurred.

The New York Times

I'll just go ahead and start a new career".

The New York Times - Sports

Should she go ahead and start building that proposal?

Harvard Business Review

But let's go ahead and start our discussion in terms of molecular orbital theory.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Grosso says the city should go ahead and start debating full marijuana legalization despite the restrictions on the books.

The Washington Post

Go ahead and start IDLE or type "python" at the command line (Terminal on the Mac or "run: cmd" on Windows) and let's get started.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"I think it's good that people can go ahead and start over before they get to that level of anger and hostility," she said.

The New York Times

And then the professor went for a sabbatical to Hawaii and told the student go ahead and start measuring, because they figured they'd need 11 years to find the thing.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "go ahead and start" to give clear permission or encouragement to someone to begin an action. It's suitable for both informal and semi-formal settings.

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid using "go ahead and start" in highly formal or professional documents. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "proceed to initiate" or "you may commence".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "go ahead and start" primarily functions as an idiomatic expression used to grant permission or offer encouragement to begin an action. Ludwig AI indicates that this usage is both correct and common in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "go ahead and start" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to give permission or encouragement to begin an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted in English writing. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to informal contexts, with news media being a frequent source. For more formal settings, alternatives like "you may commence" might be more appropriate. The phrase's function is primarily to authorize or encourage, and it appears frequently in both media and academic sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

you may start now

Formal and direct permission.

start whenever you're ready

Offers flexibility and considers the readiness of the individual.

don't hesitate to start

Encourages immediate action, removing any potential hesitation.

feel free to begin

More formal and polite, suitable for professional settings.

begin without delay

Stresses the importance of starting promptly.

launch into action

Suggests a vigorous and enthusiastic start.

proceed to initiate

Highly formal and often used in official instructions.

kick things off

Informal and suitable for initiating a meeting or event.

commence immediately

Emphasizes urgency and directness.

get the ball rolling

Idiomatic expression for starting a process or project.

FAQs

How can I use "go ahead and start" in a sentence?

You can use "go ahead and start" to give someone permission to begin something, like "Go ahead and start the meeting, I'll be there in a minute" or to encourage someone, such as "Go ahead and start writing, don't worry about making mistakes at first".

What are some alternatives to "go ahead and start"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "feel free to begin", "you may start now", or "start whenever you're ready".

Is "go ahead and start" appropriate for formal writing?

While "go ahead and start" is generally acceptable, it is often more suitable for informal or semi-formal contexts. In formal writing, consider using phrases like "you may commence" or "proceed to initiate".

What's the difference between "go ahead and start" and "begin"?

"Begin" is a more direct and formal way to indicate the start of something. "Go ahead and start" adds a layer of permission or encouragement, suggesting that there might have been some hesitation or uncertainty before starting. Using just "begin" is more neutral.