have yet to begin

USAGE SUMMARY

'have yet to begin' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to express that something has not yet started. For example: "We have yet to begin work on the project, but we should be able to finish by the end of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Real repairs have yet to begin.

The Economist

Peace talks with the Tamil rebels have yet to begin.

The New York Times

Negotiations have yet to begin, though talks are taking place behind the scenes.

The Economist

The things I have yet to begin to master are fine details like inlay and marquetry.

The New York Times

Only Mr. Badillo and Mr. Green have yet to begin television advertising.

The New York Times

And yet, physicists have yet to begin a concerted effort to explore them experimentally.

MIT Technology Review

Payments to victims have yet to begin, for various legal reasons.

The New York Times

For Odysseus this is of course a prescient moment; his Homeric travails have yet to begin.

The New York Times

And there are many readers who have yet to begin that investigation, despite comics' long history.

The Guardian - Books

But closings have yet to begin and, he conceded, "there will be some fallout".

The New York Times

For the moment, those experiments in low-calorie tastiness have yet to begin.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have yet to begin" to clearly indicate that an action or process has not started but is expected to start at some point. This helps set expectations and provides context.

Common error

Avoid using "have yet to begin" when there is no intention or plan for the action to start in the future. This phrase implies an expectation or plan for commencement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have yet to begin" functions as a verbal phrase indicating that an action or process has not commenced at the time of speaking or writing. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have yet to begin" is a versatile phrase used to express that something has not started, often implying an expected future start. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's commonly found in news and media, but also used in scientific and business contexts. While semantically similar alternatives like ""are still to begin"" or ""have yet to start"" exist, "have yet to begin" carries a slightly more formal tone. When using the phrase, ensure the context implies a future intention or expectation of commencement to avoid misuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are still to begin

Uses a more direct and slightly less formal tone.

have yet to start

A simpler and more straightforward alternative.

have not yet commenced

More formal and emphasizes the lack of commencement.

have not yet started

Directly states the lack of a starting point.

are to commence

More formal and emphasizes the planned start of something.

are to get underway

Implies the start of a process or activity.

have not been initiated

Formal and emphasizes that no initial action has been taken.

remain to be started

Passive voice, emphasizing that the starting action is pending.

are pending commencement

Highlights that the start is waiting or scheduled.

have a ways to go

Idiomatic; suggests a significant portion remains before starting.

FAQs

How can I use "have yet to begin" in a sentence?

You can use "have yet to begin" to indicate that something hasn't started. For example, "Negotiations "have yet to begin", though talks are taking place behind the scenes."

What phrases are similar to "have yet to begin"?

Similar phrases include "are still to begin", "have yet to start", and "have not yet commenced", all indicating that something hasn't started yet.

Is it correct to say "has yet to begin"?

Yes, but "has yet to begin" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "The project has yet to begin"), while "have yet to begin" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "The negotiations have yet to begin").

What's the difference between "have yet to begin" and "have not begun yet"?

Both phrases convey the same meaning, but "have yet to begin" often implies a stronger sense of anticipation or expectation compared to "have not begun yet".