had begun experiencing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had begun experiencing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone started to feel or undergo something in the past, often in relation to a gradual process or change. Example: "By the time the doctor was consulted, she had begun experiencing symptoms that were concerning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Tobias said Fish had begun experiencing "funny feelings" that concerned him at his hotel Thursday night after the match.

The New York Times - Sports

He had begun experiencing symptoms in 1980, when he was in his late twenties; his boyfriend, Scott Bernard, died in 1986.

The New Yorker

After 32 years of service, Mr. Manning embarked on a hyperactive retirement, returning his full attention to the Lindy, which had begun experiencing a revival.

The New York Times - Arts

McCumber, she learned from a friend, had begun experiencing joint stiffness, fatigue, and nausea after eating kale from his garden the earliest signs, it would turn out, of a mysterious parasitic infection.

The New Yorker

McCumber, she learned from a friend, had begun experiencing joint stiffness, fatigue, and nausea after eating kale from his garden — the earliest signs, it would turn out, of a mysterious parasitic infection.

The New Yorker

Peter Cordingley, a spokesman for the Western Pacific section of the World Health Organization, said China's Ministry of Health had notified the agency today that the man in Guangdong Province had begun experiencing a headache and fever on Dec. 16 and been hospitalized and immediately isolated on Dec. 20 as a suspected case of SARS.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

But even some longstanding truces have begun experiencing strain.

The New York Times

London has begun experiencing its Olympics growing pains.

The Guardian

Eastern Province have begun experiencing shortages of gas.

The Guardian

We should have begun experiencing the benefit of the rate cuts last year.

The New York Times

Recently I've begun experiencing attacks of phobia and anxiety much more than I ever have before.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had begun experiencing" to describe the initial stages of a condition or situation, especially when emphasizing that the experience is ongoing or progressive. For example: "After the storm, the coastal region had begun experiencing increased erosion."

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses mid-sentence. Ensure that if you start with "had begun experiencing", the rest of the sentence maintains a past perfect or simple past tense for consistency. For example, instead of "He had begun experiencing pain, and it is getting worse", use "He had begun experiencing pain, and it was getting worse."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had begun experiencing" functions as a verb phrase indicating the start of a process or sensation in the past. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, it is frequently used to describe the onset of symptoms, changes, or developments, establishing a temporal sequence in narratives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had begun experiencing" is a verb phrase used to describe the commencement of a process or sensation in the past, as validated by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically correct and commonly found in news, scientific, and general contexts, making it versatile for various writing needs. It typically serves to narrate the initial phase of an event, emphasizing the temporal sequence. While generally neutral, it can lean towards formal depending on the context. When using this phrase, ensure consistency in tense and consider simpler alternatives like "started experiencing" for more informal settings. Be aware of potential misuse by ensuring that the rest of your sentence is consistent with the past perfect tense.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

started experiencing

Replaces "had begun" with "started", offering a slightly less formal tone.

began to experience

Reorders the phrase, changing the emphasis but maintaining the core meaning.

had started to experience

Adds "started to" for emphasis on the initiation of the experience.

was starting to experience

Uses the continuous tense to emphasize the ongoing nature of the experience.

commenced experiencing

Replaces "begun" with the more formal "commenced".

had initiated experiencing

Uses "initiated" to convey the start of the experience in a more formal way.

had undergone initial experiences of

More verbose, highlighting that the experiences were initial.

had shown early signs of

Focuses on the early signs of an underlying condition or development.

had developed initial symptoms of

Highlights the development of symptoms, often in a medical context.

started to feel

Simplifies the expression, focusing on the feeling aspect of the experience.

FAQs

How can I use "had begun experiencing" in a sentence?

Use "had begun experiencing" to indicate that someone or something started to undergo a particular feeling, symptom, or situation in the past. For example: "The patient "had begun experiencing" breathing difficulties before seeking medical attention.

What are some alternatives to "had begun experiencing"?

Alternatives include "started experiencing", "began to experience", or "was starting to experience". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "had begun experiencing" formal or informal?

"Had begun experiencing" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. Simpler alternatives like "started feeling" might be more appropriate in very informal contexts.

What's the difference between "had begun experiencing" and "began experiencing"?

"Had begun experiencing" uses the past perfect tense, indicating that the experience started and continued before another point in the past. "Began experiencing" uses the simple past tense, indicating that the experience simply started in the past. The choice depends on the relationship between the experience and other events in the narrative.