had only begun

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had only begun" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something started happening or was in progress at a particular point in the past, but had not yet reached its full or expected level of completion. Example: The concert had only begun when a power outage plunged the venue into darkness.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Her day had only begun.

The New York Times - Arts

The excitement had only begun.

The New York Times - Sports

Then, we had only begun to experiment.

Harvard Business Review

Ms. Ibarra's nightmare had only begun.

The New York Times

But the torture had only begun.

The New York Times

I had only begun to scratch the surface.

Cornell University

But the gusher of claims had only begun.

The New York Times

The quest for the quintuple had only begun.

The New York Times - Magazine

And this whirlwind had only begun to spark mine.

The New York Times - Food

The great black migration from the South had only begun.

The New York Times

Mr. Forbes also warned that the fight had only begun.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had only begun" to effectively convey that an action or event was in its initial stages at a specific point in the past, implying that more was to follow. This can create anticipation or emphasize the incompleteness of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "had only begun" when you want to convey that something has fully started and progressed significantly. This phrase implies that the action was in its initial phase and not yet fully developed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had only begun" functions as a verbal phrase indicating that an action or event was in its early stages at a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical structure and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

12%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had only begun" is a versatile verbal phrase used to indicate that an action or event was in its early stages at a particular time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and finds it to be "Very common" across various contexts. The phrase is particularly prevalent in "News & Media", but also appears frequently in "Science" and "Academia". When using "had only begun", ensure that you are correctly conveying the idea of incompleteness or the initial phase of an action. Alternatives such as "had just started" or "was only starting" can be used to convey a similar meaning, depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had just started

Focuses on the recent commencement of an action or event.

had merely commenced

Highlights the initial stage of an event, often suggesting a longer process ahead.

had barely started

Emphasizes how little progress has been made since the beginning.

was only starting

Indicates an action was in its initial phase at a specific point in time.

had recently initiated

Highlights the recent commencement of a process or project.

had only initiated

Similar meaning, but conveys a sense of formal beginning or process start.

had simply started

Emphasizes the uncomplicated nature of the beginning.

had tentatively begun

Implies a cautious or hesitant start to something.

had only commenced

Emphasizes the official start.

was in its early stages

Highlights the initial development phase of something.

FAQs

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

You can use "had only begun" to indicate that something was in its initial stages at a particular time in the past. For instance, "The investigation "had only begun", and many leads remained to be explored."

What are some alternatives to "had only begun"?

Alternatives include "had just started", "had merely commenced", or "was only starting", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "had began only" instead of "had only begun"?

No, the correct phrase is "had only begun". The word "only" should be placed before "begun" to properly modify the verb and convey the intended meaning.

What is the difference between "had only begun" and "had barely begun"?

"Had only begun" indicates that something was in its initial stages, while "had barely begun" emphasizes how little progress has been made since the start. The latter conveys a stronger sense of incompleteness or minimal advancement.