gracious beginning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gracious beginning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a kind or generous start to an event, conversation, or relationship. Example: "The meeting started with a gracious beginning, as the host warmly welcomed all the attendees and expressed gratitude for their presence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The word "gracious" doesn't begin to cover Wallace's reaction.

The New York Times - Books

The comedy sketch show Goodness Gracious Me had begun on radio the previous year and would soon transfer to television.

The Guardian

The gracious hostess to a couple million visitors each year was just beginning to sag a bit.

Los Angeles Times

A motorcade sped the president over the Red River into one of Asia's most gracious capitals, where people began to line the streets in groups of a dozen or so, almost none of them old enough to remember the war.

The New York Times

Steinbrenner was gracious to Mike Ilitch, the Tigers' owner, for honoring the American League's request to play in Detroit this weekend, beginning tonight, while repairs are made at Yankee Stadium.

The New York Times - Sports

She lighted a candle and summoned a gracious sentiment with which to begin.

The New York Times

Florida political scientist Daniel Smith has been tracking the evolution of the early vote in Florida since it began, and was gracious enough to share his data.

The Washington Post

The program began with a gracious rendition of Mendelssohn's Rondo Capriccioso in E (Op. 14), which shows the influence of Weber, followed by a cleanly articulated performance of Haydn's Sonata in E minor (Hob. HVI 34).

The New York Times - Arts

"I have been sitting next to her at book signings where 800 people go through a line and say the exact same thing — 'I went into politics because of your father' or 'Your mother was beautiful' or 'How hard it must be for you because of your brother' — and she is unfailingly gracious where I would have begun to throw water at them".

The New York Times

Words like warm-hearted, dedicated, trustworthy, gracious, dependable and humble barely begin to describe Linda.

Los Angeles Times

"I see a lot of gracious exhortation for him to begin the healing process," Tsang told RNS. "But his silence is as hurtful as his link he posted today, as if to tell us to 'get over it because we're moving on.'".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gracious beginning" to set a positive tone when describing the initial phase of an event, project, or relationship. It implies kindness, generosity, or goodwill at the outset.

Common error

Avoid using "gracious beginning" when the context requires a more neutral or formal term. While generally positive, "gracious" implies a certain level of benevolence or favor that might not always be appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gracious beginning" functions as a noun phrase where "gracious" modifies the noun "beginning". It describes the quality or nature of the beginning, implying it was characterized by kindness or generosity. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gracious beginning" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a kind or generous start, setting a positive tone. While examples are limited, Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical soundness and usability. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, leaning slightly towards the formal side and generally appropriate for News & Media, Formal & Business, or Science. Alternatives include "auspicious start" and "generous start". Remember to consider the specific context to ensure that the connotation of benevolence is appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Auspicious start

Replaces "gracious" with "auspicious", focusing on the promising nature of the beginning.

Generous start

Uses "generous" instead of "gracious", highlighting the benevolent aspect of the beginning.

Favorable commencement

Substitutes both words to indicate a positive and advantageous beginning.

Pleasant start

Replaces "gracious" with "pleasant", emphasizing the enjoyable nature of the beginning.

Cordial commencement

Replaces the words for a more formal and heartfelt connotation.

Kindly inception

Replaces "gracious" with "kindly" and "beginning" with "inception", slightly more formal.

Benign opening

Employs "benign" and "opening", indicating a gentle and favorable start.

Agreeable initiation

Uses "agreeable" and "initiation", suggesting a harmonious and welcomed start.

A promising kickoff

Uses a more informal and dynamic term, "kickoff", to suggest an energetic start.

A warm welcome

Shifts from a descriptive phrase to a noun phrase indicating a positive beginning.

FAQs

How can I use "gracious beginning" in a sentence?

You might say, "The conference had a "gracious beginning" with the host's warm welcome", indicating a kind and pleasant start.

What phrases are similar to "gracious beginning"?

Alternatives include "auspicious start", "favorable commencement", or "generous start", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "gracious beginning" formal or informal?

The phrase "gracious beginning" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it leans slightly towards the formal side due to the word "gracious".

What does "gracious beginning" imply?

It implies that the start of something was marked by kindness, generosity, or goodwill, setting a positive and favorable tone for what follows.