had started receiving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had started receiving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action of receiving began at some point in the past and may have continued or has relevance to the present situation. Example: "By the time the meeting began, we had started receiving feedback from the participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

By January, more humanitarian staff started arriving because organisations had started receiving emergency funds.

The Guardian

Mr. Truax said Wednesday that he had heard victims had started receiving cash cards from the Red Cross.

The New York Times

By late Monday afternoon, buyers said that they had started receiving calls from the investors' lawyers about whether they would stay in the deal.

The New York Times

Later on, she said she had started receiving a little help from the government; $336 a month in food stamps since June.

The New York Times

Ms. Dell'Amore said she had started receiving vaguely threatening letters in the mail as well as dozens of unsolicited magazine subscriptions.

The New York Times - Travel

A 2-to-1 decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned the ruling on the ground that the closest Supreme Court precedent, a 1980 ruling on judicial pay in the case of United States v. Will, treated judicial pay increases as not "vesting" for constitutional purposes until judges had started receiving the money.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

However, in the past decade they have started receiving government support for the first time.

The Economist

Ms. Harris would soon enroll in G.E.D. classes, and with the help of the agency, she has started receiving public assistance.

The New York Times

As Southwest has attracted more business travelers, however, it has started receiving complaints about the boarding system.

The New York Times

Thousands of families have started receiving official letters telling them they need to set up a pension plan for their nanny during the next few months.

The Guardian - Money

Since publishing their findings, Mr. Marquis-Boire and Mr. Marczak have started receiving malware samples from other security researchers and from activist groups that suspected they may have been targets.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had started receiving" to clearly indicate that the act of receiving began in the past and may have continued to a certain point. It's useful for providing context in narratives or reports.

Common error

Avoid shifting to present tense mid-sentence after using "had started receiving". Ensure the rest of the sentence maintains a past tense or past perfect tense for coherence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had started receiving" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past perfect continuous action. It specifies that the action of receiving began at some point in the past and continued until another point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had started receiving" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase to indicate that the act of receiving began in the past and may have continued until a specific point in the past. As supported by Ludwig AI, it is versatile and functions across various contexts, including news, science, and business. While alternatives like "began receiving" or "commenced receiving" exist, the choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis. When using this phrase, maintaining consistent tense is crucial to avoid errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

began receiving

Focuses on the commencement of receiving, similar to the query, but uses a different verb.

commenced receiving

More formal alternative, emphasizing the initiation of receiving.

initiated receipt of

Highlights the official start of the process of receiving.

had begun to get

Uses a more common verb, "get", instead of "receive", making it slightly less formal.

had come to receive

Indicates a gradual process leading to the act of receiving.

had been given

Focuses on the act of giving, implying that receiving is a consequence.

had become a recipient of

Emphasizes the state of being a receiver.

were now in receipt of

Formal and indicates a current state of receiving.

had started to get

More informal alternative, using "get" instead of "receiving".

were beginning to receive

Stresses the progressive nature of starting to receive.

FAQs

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

You can use "had started receiving" to indicate that someone or something began to get something in the past and the process may have continued for a period of time. For example, "By the time the conference began, attendees "had started receiving" their welcome packs".

What are some alternatives to "had started receiving"?

Alternatives include "began receiving", "commenced receiving", or "initiated receipt of". The best choice depends on the level of formality and the specific context.

Is there a difference between "had started receiving" and "began receiving"?

"Had started receiving" implies a process that began in the past and may have continued for some time, while "began receiving" simply indicates the commencement of receiving at a specific point.

Which is more formal, "had started receiving" or "commenced receiving"?

Commenced receiving is generally considered more formal than "had started receiving". "Commenced" is often used in legal or official contexts.