have not started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'have not started' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that an action has not yet begun. For example, "We have not started working on the project yet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"They have not started counting".

The New York Times

We have not started this tour well.

The Guardian - Sport

Things have not started well for Carr.

The New York Times

Arsenal have not started this half at all.

The Guardian - Sport

"And we have not started to explore the possibilities yet".

The New York Times

If classes have not started yet, your login may not work.

Columbia University

If you stop the timer or have not started it yet, this method will return false.

Stanford University

"The biggest range of opportunities are the businesses that have not started yet".

The New York Times

West Brom have not started a season in the top division like this for 59 years.

Independent

The Interior Ministry's investigative department... have not started new criminal cases against Magnitsky.

Independent

Because of the lawsuit, county officials have not started implementing or enforcing the law.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone and audience when choosing between "have not started" and more formal alternatives like "have not commenced".

Common error

Avoid using "has not started" with plural subjects. Ensure the verb "have" agrees with the subject in number. For example, use "they have not started" instead of "they has not started".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have not started" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that an action or process has not yet commenced. It expresses a state of non-initiation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

21%

Science

18%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have not started" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that something has not yet begun. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. It is frequently encountered in News & Media, Academia, and Scientific domains, reflecting its broad applicability. While alternative phrases exist, such as "haven't begun" or "yet to begin", "have not started" remains a common and reliable choice for expressing the non-initiation of an action or event. When using this phrase, ensure proper tense agreement and clarity regarding the action being referenced.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

haven't begun

Contraction used for a more informal tone.

hasn't started yet

Adds emphasis to the fact that the beginning is still pending.

yet to begin

Highlights the anticipation of a future start.

are yet to start

Highlights the absence of an initial action.

did not commence

More formal and emphasizes a lack of official beginning.

have not commenced

Formal alternative to "have not started".

has not initiated

Suggests a formal or procedural lack of starting.

not yet underway

Indicates that something is not currently in progress.

not kicked off

Informal, often used for events or projects.

remains to be seen

Focuses on future possibility rather than current state.

FAQs

How to use "have not started" in a sentence?

You can use "have not started" to indicate that an action or process has not yet begun. For example, "The meeting "have not started" yet."

What can I say instead of "have not started"?

You can use alternatives like "haven't begun", "not yet underway", or "yet to begin" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "have not started" or "has not started"?

"Have not started" is correct for plural subjects (e.g., "they have not started"), while "has not started" is correct for singular subjects (e.g., "he has not started").

What's the difference between "have not started" and "did not start"?

"Have not started" implies a continuing state up to the present, while "did not start" refers to a completed action in the past. For example, "They "have not started" the project yet" means it's still pending. "They did not start the project" means they chose not to start it at a specific point in the past.