had only started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had only started" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action began recently or was in its early stages at a specific point in the past. Example: "By the time the meeting began, we had only started discussing the main agenda items."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The magic had only started.

The New York Times

"He had only started painting two years before," he said.

The Guardian - Arts

It had only started a second season just then.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

This was draft work, that had only started to be presented, and there had been questions raised and suggestions made.

The Guardian

Note photo 3, of a lone star nymph on the left which had only started to feed in comparison to one partially engorged on the right.

Cornell University

"He wanted to continue with his career, he had only started his job that week," she said.

The Guardian

Traditionally, married women have not continued driving regularly and had only started again after their husband died.

The Guardian - Money

Woodhead vehemently denied the accusation, saying he had only started a relationship with Johnston several years later in Oxford.

The Guardian

But she noted that this progress created problems that industry participants had only started to recognize, like the increased the instability of the market.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The race has only started.

The Economist

The technology has only started to evolve".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had only started" to clearly indicate that an action was in its initial phase at a particular point in the past. It's helpful for establishing timelines and understanding the development of events.

Common error

Avoid using "had only started" when referring to current or future events; it's specifically for past situations. For present events, use "has only started" or "is only starting".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had only started" functions as a past perfect verb phrase. It indicates that an action was in its initial stages at a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

17%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Academia

5%

HuffPost

5%

Vice

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had only started" is a versatile past perfect verb phrase, indicating that an action was in its initial phase at a particular point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the timeline is clear and that the past perfect tense is appropriate. Common errors include using it for current or future events, which requires different tenses. Remember that alternative phrases, such as "had just begun" or "had merely commenced", can add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had just begun

Emphasizes the immediate commencement of an action; stronger emphasis on 'just'.

was only just beginning

Adds emphasis on the 'only' and 'just' to highlight the newness of the start.

had merely commenced

Highlights the slight or simple beginning of something.

had newly started

Newly emphasizes that something has started very recently.

had recently initiated

Indicates a start in the near past, adding a temporal element.

had freshly started

Freshly implies an element of newness or recentness to the start.

had barely begun

Stresses the minimal progress made at the start of something.

was in its infancy

Uses a metaphor to describe something in its earliest developmental stage.

had tentatively started

Suggests a cautious or hesitant beginning.

was at the inception

Formal way to say something was at its very beginning or origin.

FAQs

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

Use "had only started" to describe an action that was in its early stages at a specific point in the past. For example, "By the time I arrived, the movie "had only started", so I didn't miss much."

What's a good alternative to "had only started"?

You can use alternatives like "had just begun" or "had merely commenced" depending on the context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has only started" instead of "had only started"?

The choice depends on the time frame. Use "has only started" for present perfect tense, indicating something that began recently and continues to the present. Use "had only started" for past perfect, describing something that was in its initial phase before another past event.

What is the difference between "had only started" and "had just started"?

While similar, "had just started" emphasizes the recency of the beginning even more than "had only started". The "just" adds a sense of immediacy.