he started down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he started down" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone began to move or descend in a particular direction, often implying a physical or metaphorical journey. Example: "After a long day at work, he started down the path leading to the river to clear his mind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

He started down the runway.

The New Yorker

With his backward baseball caps and rhythmic rhyming, he started down a hip-hop path.

The New York Times

He started down in the south of Mexico at 13, and he has enjoyed the riches of performing in Europe for more than a decade.

The New York Times - Sports

He couldn't seem to get under the water; every time he started down, he bobbed back up, like a cork.

The New Yorker

For Mr. Romney, the task is to show that the Benghazi attack was symptomatic of bigger failings in the Middle East, a road he started down in the last debate, but an argument he never completed.

The New York Times

"When our beloved friend, the fine Governor of the Gret Stet of Loosiana, sent for me in his need at Mandeville," Mr. Sims said, "his condition had been so MISREPRESENTED here he took the train around a loop and up to Seventy-second Street before he started down again—"that people I knew said to me, 'Don't you go up there, Joe Sims.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Having discovered both the vine and the extraction method necessary to transform it into deep, dark, full-bodied tempranillo, he started downing gallons of the stuff.

Vice

So that means these guys: GOP Attorney General John Suthers, who's teaching law classes; Secretary of State Scott Gessler, if he starts down the moonlighting path again; and Dwayne Romero, whom Hick appointed to lead the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

Huffington Post

Essentially, open-ended funding gave him carte blanche to pursue his next venture, and he immediately started down the track of improving search.

TechCrunch

When he first started down this medical path, it was unnerving to talk with him.

Los Angeles Times

CT scanners, he says, have started down the cost-efficiency curve familiar to PCs and cell phones.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he started down" to clearly indicate the commencement of a downward movement, whether physical, like descending a hill, or metaphorical, such as embarking on a new path. Ensure the context makes the direction (down) obvious.

Common error

Avoid using "he started down" solely for starting something new without an implied downward or lessening aspect. If there's no sense of 'descent' or reduction, consider alternatives like "he began" or "he initiated."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he started down" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of movement or progression in a downward direction or along a specific path. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and numerous examples illustrate its application in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he started down" is a versatile expression used to depict the commencement of movement or a journey, either physically or metaphorically. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse sources, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, its impact is in setting the stage for ensuing events or actions. When employing this phrase, ensure the context appropriately conveys the intended direction or path being undertaken.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he began to descend

Focuses on the action of going downwards; emphasizes the physical movement.

he commenced descent

Formal alternative focusing on the initiation of descending.

he initiated his journey down

Emphasizes the start of a trip or path downwards.

he set off down

Suggests the beginning of a trip along a path.

he moved downwards

A simple and direct way to describe movement downwards.

he proceeded down

Highlights the continuation of movement in a downward direction.

he headed down

Implies a specific direction towards a lower point.

he started to walk down

Specifies the mode of movement is walking.

he made his way down

Focuses on the effort of descending.

he went down

The most basic and general way to say someone descended.

FAQs

What does "he started down" mean?

The phrase "he started down" means that a person began to move or proceed in a downward direction, either physically or metaphorically, like starting a journey or a course of action.

What can I say instead of "he started down"?

You can use alternatives such as "he began to descend", "he set off down", or "he proceeded downward" depending on the specific context.

Is "he started down" formal or informal?

The phrase "he started down" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives exist for professional writing.

How do I use "he started down" in a sentence?

Use "he started down" to indicate the beginning of a descent or movement, for example, "He gathered his courage and he started down the mountain path" or "After careful consideration, he started down a new career path".