had certainly begun

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had certainly begun" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action started in the past and emphasizes the certainty of that action having commenced. Example: "By the time we arrived, the meeting had certainly begun, and we missed the opening remarks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Kremlin has produced no evidence of such a letter, but Mr. Berezovsky, one of Mr. Putin's bitterest critics-in-exile, had certainly begun to speak in recent days of a deep homesickness.

The New York Times

Stating his future intentions he also said he wanted to one day be a "martyr". If these reports are accurate then Abdul Rahman al-Awlaki had certainly begun to associate with Al Qaeda and it was this association with terrorists that brought him to the attention of the CIA's spy networks.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In any case, the expansion has certainly begun.

The Economist

It has, certainly, begun to change in radical ways.

The Guardian - Books

It still isn't — although over the past decade that has certainly begun to change.

The Washington Post

Probably not, but a delicate game of brinkmanship has certainly begun.

The Washington Post

President Bush has certainly begun a serious effort to persuade Israel and Palestine to make peace, and that process has inched edgily forwards.

The Economist

I must say this project gave me a push to draw more and more, and I have certainly begun to see the world differently.

The Guardian - Arts

"Over the last few years, we have certainly begun to notice that anything we did in our stores that even evoked a healthier alternative has resonated with our customers," Mr. Schultz said.

The New York Times

Whether or not the internet has made a difference to how we use our brains, it has certainly begun to make a difference to how we think about our brains.

The Guardian - Tech

And the rise of social media has certainly begun to send ripples throughout popular culture, spreading the sense that everybody's voice has a right to be heard, that our daily experience, related in our own personal voice, is worthy of memorializing in the digital ecosphere.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had certainly begun" to clearly and emphatically indicate the commencement of an action in the past, leaving no room for doubt. This construction works well in narratives or analytical writing where establishing a timeline is crucial.

Common error

Avoid stacking adverbs with "had begun". While "certainly" adds emphasis, too many adverbs can make your writing sound verbose. Instead of "had very certainly really begun", opt for a stronger verb or a more concise phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had certainly begun" functions as a marker of completed action in the past, emphasizing the certainty of its commencement. Ludwig examples show its use in historical narratives and factual reporting. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had certainly begun" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize the confirmed commencement of an action in the past. Ludwig's analysis indicates it functions as a marker of completed action and serves to provide a clear, neutral statement of events. While infrequent, when it appears, it does so primarily in news and media contexts to establish a timeline with conviction. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of the phrase. To enhance writing, use it sparingly to maintain clarity and avoid redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had definitely started

Replaces "certainly" with "definitely" for emphasis on the start of an action.

had surely commenced

Uses a more formal verb, "commenced", and replaces "certainly" with "surely".

had undoubtedly initiated

Emphasizes the initiation of something without a doubt.

had positively started

Replaces "certainly" with "positively", conveying a sense of assurance.

had absolutely commenced

Uses "absolutely" for stronger emphasis on commencement.

had officially started

Implies a formal or recognized beginning.

had inarguably begun

Highlights that the commencement is not open to dispute.

had concretely begun

Emphasizes the tangible start of an event or process.

had unmistakably started

Highlights that the start of the action was clear and obvious.

had incontrovertibly commenced

A more formal way to state that something has undeniably started.

FAQs

What does "had certainly begun" mean?

It means that something had definitely or undoubtedly started in the past. It emphasizes the certainty of the beginning of an action or event.

What can I say instead of "had certainly begun"?

You can use alternatives like "had definitely started", "had surely commenced", or "had undoubtedly initiated" depending on the context.

Is "had certainly began" grammatically correct?

No, the correct form is "had certainly begun". "Begun" is the past participle of "begin" and is used with the auxiliary verb "have".

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

For example, "By the time the authorities arrived, the fire "had certainly begun" to spread rapidly."