he started to walk

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "He started to walk" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe an action that someone began. For example: "John had been standing still for several minutes when he suddenly started to walk away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Then he started to walk away.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He started to walk toward the taxi as though he was going to confront the driver".

The New York Times

I had one guy, he started to walk off with £160 worth of food.

The Guardian

The buoy started to roll very slowly under his feet, so he started to walk to keep pace with it.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He picked it up, and he started to walk over to his mom and Roque, who were so busy talking they hadn't noticed anything.

The New Yorker

As he started to walk off, he paused and looked back, as if there was something more he wanted to say.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

He starts to walk to work, whistling.

The New Yorker

He starts to walk away.

The New York Times

He starts to walk toward me.

The New Yorker

He is taller than I expect, and gives a megawatt smile as he starts to walk down the aisle to say "Hello" to as many journalists and crews as he can.

BBC

He starts to walk off the stage, but then comes back and decides to chant with them instead.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he started to walk" to clearly indicate the beginning of someone's walking action. It's a straightforward way to describe the commencement of movement.

Common error

Ensure consistent tense throughout your writing. If you're writing in the past tense, maintain it. Avoid unnecessarily switching to present tense after using "he started to walk".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he started to walk" primarily functions as a verbal phrase indicating the initiation of a physical action. It describes the moment someone begins the activity of walking. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a correct and usable sentence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he started to walk" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-toned phrase used to describe the beginning of someone's walking action. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability in written English. While not extremely common, the phrase appears in various contexts, predominantly in news media and general narratives. For more formal settings, alternatives like "he began to walk" can be considered. When writing, maintain tense consistency and consider more descriptive alternatives for added vividness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he began to walk

Uses 'began' instead of 'started', offering a slightly more formal tone.

he proceeded to walk

Implies a continuation from a previous state or action.

he commenced walking

Replaces 'started to walk' with 'commenced walking', creating a more formal and less common construction.

he initiated walking

Substitutes 'started' with 'initiated', implying a deliberate start.

he set off walking

Indicates the beginning of a journey or a walk with a specific destination.

he transitioned to walking

Highlights a change in movement from another activity to walking.

he got up and walked

Specifies that the person was previously in a seated or prone position before starting to walk.

he launched into a walk

Implies a sudden or energetic start to walking.

he took a step

Focuses on the initial action of stepping, rather than the continuous act of walking.

he stirred to walk

Suggests a more subtle or reluctant start to walking.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "he started to walk" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "he began to walk" or "he commenced walking". The phrase "he began to walk" is a good substitute in most contexts.

What's a more descriptive alternative to "he started to walk"?

Consider using phrases that add more detail, such as "he set off walking" if he was beginning a journey, or "he got up and walked" if he was previously seated. If the walk was a response to something unexpected, consider using "he proceeded to walk".

Is "he started walking" grammatically different from "he started to walk"?

Both "he started walking" and "he started to walk" are grammatically correct and generally interchangeable. The choice often comes down to stylistic preference, though "he started walking" might sound slightly more natural to some speakers.

When is it inappropriate to use "he started to walk"?

The phrase is appropriate in most contexts. However, in highly descriptive writing, consider using more evocative language to paint a vivid picture, rather than simply stating the action. Instead, try phrases that imply movement, like "he strode forward" or "he wandered off".