heart began

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "heart began" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the onset of an emotional or physical reaction, often in a narrative context. Example: "As she walked into the room, her heart began to race with excitement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Her heart began racing.

The New York Times

My heart began racing.

The New Yorker

My heart began to beat fast.

The New York Times

My mother's heart began to fail.

The New Yorker

Her heart began to pound with fear.

The New York Times

And my heart began to sing.

The New York Times - Magazine

My heart began to sink.

The New York Times - Magazine

Kwami's heart began to race.

The New York Times

"Suddenly, your heart began," says the storyteller.

The Guardian - Books

Then Arianna's heart began to race.

The New York Times

Cliff's heart began to beat faster.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heart began" to vividly describe the onset of a physical or emotional state, often creating a sense of anticipation or immediacy in your writing. For example, "As the music swelled, her heart began to race."

Common error

Avoid using "heart began" in highly technical or medical writing where more precise terminology (e.g., "cardiac function initiated") would be more appropriate. Prefer it for narrative or descriptive prose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heart began" typically functions as part of a verb phrase, often followed by an infinitive (e.g., "heart began to race"). It describes the commencement of a physiological or emotional process related to the heart.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "heart began" is a versatile expression primarily used in narrative contexts to signal the start of a physical or emotional reaction related to the heart. It's deemed grammatically correct and very common according to Ludwig. While "heart started" serves as a more informal alternative, "heart began" lends itself well to creating a sense of immediacy in writing. While versatile, the phrase is better suited for narrative prose than for formal technical writing. As exemplified in the provided examples, it commonly appears in News & Media, showing its relevance and widespread applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heart started

Replaces "began" with "started", indicating the commencement of heart activity or emotion.

heart commenced

Uses the more formal "commenced" instead of "began", implying a similar start but with a slightly elevated tone.

heart initiated

Employs "initiated" for "began", suggesting a formal or scientific context of commencement.

heart's rhythm started

Specifies "rhythm" indicating the start of a rhythmic heartbeat.

heart's activity began

Replaces the verb with "activity" for a more descriptive and slightly less common usage.

heart's functioning initiated

Uses a more technical term for its functioning.

heart's operation started

Replacing activity with "operation" shifts the context to an implied medical or mechanical.

heart underwent a change

Alters the sentence structure to focus on a broader transformation involving the heart.

heart experienced a beginning

Introduces a more abstract and philosophical approach, focusing on the heart's experience.

heart was activated

Highlights a state change to an active condition.

FAQs

How can I use "heart began" in a sentence?

You can use "heart began" to describe the onset of a feeling or physical sensation. For example, "When she saw him, her "heart began to race"."

What can I say instead of "heart began"?

Alternatives include "heart started", "heart commenced", or "heart initiated", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "heart began beating"?

Yes, "heart began beating" is a correct and common usage, particularly when describing the physical act of the heart starting to beat.

What's the difference between "heart began" and "heart started"?

While both phrases are similar, "heart started" is slightly more informal, while "heart began" can convey a more literary or formal tone. The choice depends on the overall style and context of your writing.