i started receiving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I started receiving" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating the beginning of a process where you began to get something, such as messages, notifications, or items. Example: "I started receiving updates about the project last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I started receiving letters postmarked from prison," Mr. Salpeter said.

The New York Times

The first I knew of it was when I started receiving letters of condolence".

Independent

As I walked down Commonwealth Avenue, I started receiving calls from family back home.

The New York Times

A year or so ago I started receiving letters that were odder than usual.

The Guardian - Opinion

"But then I started receiving thousands of letters, from America and across the world.

The Guardian

My reputation was threatened and finally I started receiving threats to my life".

The Guardian

"I started receiving phone calls from the people of the city," recalled Maaseik's mayor, Jan Creemers.

The New York Times

I started receiving counselling, doing more exercise, and making attempts to manage my anxiety.

The Guardian

Indeed, I started receiving more and more invitations from other reps, and I soon had talks scheduled every week.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"And all of a sudden I start receiving advertisements for chocolate.

The New Yorker

Next, I start receiving hostile texts from activists: the story in the Guardian is presumed to have been written by me, the only journalist on the scene.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone of your writing. While "i started receiving" is generally acceptable, "i commenced receiving" might be more suitable for formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid vague phrasing after "i started receiving". Always specify what you began to receive (e.g., emails, threats, information) to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "i started receiving" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of an action. It signifies the beginning of the process of acquiring or getting something. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to describe the beginning of receiving information, threats, or other forms of communication.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

11%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "i started receiving" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate the beginning of receiving something. Ludwig's AI confirms this, supported by numerous examples from various sources. It's versatile enough for many contexts, though "i commenced receiving" might be more appropriate for formal writing. When using the phrase, ensure you specify what was received to avoid vagueness. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, highlighting its use in descriptive narratives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i commenced receiving

Replaces "started" with "commenced", indicating a more formal beginning of receiving.

i began getting

Substitutes "receiving" with "getting", resulting in a slightly more informal tone.

i was starting to get

Adds a sense of gradual commencement of receiving.

i initiated receipt of

A more formal and less common way of expressing the start of receiving something.

i found myself receiving

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of starting to receive something.

i started to be sent

Shifts the focus to the sender, indicating that things began to be sent to the speaker.

i was now getting

Highlights the continuous nature of receiving after the start.

i became a recipient of

Focuses on the role of being the receiver rather than the action of starting.

i was on the receiving end of

Highlights the perspective of the receiver, often in the context of negative experiences.

i opened myself to receiving

Emphasizes the act of making oneself available to receive.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say "i started receiving"?

For a more formal tone, you can use "i commenced receiving" or "i initiated receipt of".

What can I say instead of "i started receiving" to sound less formal?

If you're aiming for a less formal tone, try alternatives like "i began getting" or "i was starting to get".

Is there a difference between "i started receiving" and "i began to receive"?

The phrases "i started receiving" and "i began to receive" are largely interchangeable, with minimal difference in meaning or impact.

When should I use "i was on the receiving end of" instead of "i started receiving"?

Use "i was on the receiving end of" when you want to emphasize that you were subjected to something, often negative, rather than simply initiating the act of receiving.