initiation of hostilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "initiation of hostilities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to conflict, warfare, or disputes, particularly in legal or diplomatic discussions. Example: "The initiation of hostilities between the two nations has raised concerns among international observers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

As if to drive that point home, Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia — the terrorist force that our ill-conceived invasion unleashed from Iraq's chest of horrors — came out yesterday, on the anniversary of the initiation of hostilities, and set off bombs that killed at least fifty-seven people.

The New Yorker

"There may be facts of which we are unaware, but this appears to be the first time that any president has violated the War Powers Resolution's requirement either to terminate the use of armed forces within 60 days after the initiation of hostilities or get Congress's support," Mr. Goldsmith said.

The New York Times

We must emphasize collective traffic management and condemn the initiation of hostilities in outer space rather than supporting unrestrained freedom of action.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The year closed with two events of even greater importance - the initiation of the Expanded Program of Technical Assistance, and the outbreak of hostilities in Korea.

FAO

Hostility was measured using the 20-item Chinese Hostility Inventory Short-Form (CHI-SF) [ 38], which contained four dimensions of hostility: (1) hostile cognition (six items, α =.78); (2) hostile affection (four items, α =.78); (3) expressive hostility (five items, α =.76); and (4) suppressive hostility (five items, α =.73).

BMC Psychiatry

A question of hostilities.

The Guardian

That's the sad paradox of this renewal of hostilities.

The New Yorker

That is unlikely to spell the end of hostilities.

The Economist

Student activists were also predicting a resumption of hostilities.

The New York Times

Each side blamed the other for the resumption of hostilities.

The New Yorker

The stalemate was followed by renewed bouts of hostilities.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience. For general audiences, simpler terms like "start of conflict" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "initiation of hostilities" in casual conversation or informal writing; it sounds overly formal and unnatural. Simpler alternatives are usually more effective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "initiation of hostilities" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to the commencement of warfare or conflict. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase is used to describe the starting point of armed conflicts or disputes.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "initiation of hostilities" is a formal noun phrase denoting the start of a conflict, best suited for formal, legal, or historical contexts. Ludwig's analysis indicates that while grammatically correct and understandable, the phrase is not commonly used in everyday language, being more prevalent in news, formal documents, and scientific publications. As Ludwig AI underlines, it is useful in legal and diplomatic contexts. Alternatives like "outbreak of hostilities" or "start of conflict" may be more appropriate in less formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outbreak of hostilities

Focuses on the sudden start of conflict, similar to "initiation of hostilities" but emphasizing the abruptness.

start of armed conflict

More descriptive and explicitly refers to conflicts involving weapons.

eruption of war

Suggests a sudden and violent outbreak of conflict.

commencement of war

A more direct and general term for the start of armed conflict, lacking the legal or formal tone of "initiation of hostilities".

beginning of warfare

Similar to "commencement of war", but emphasizes the actual act of waging war.

triggering of conflict

Emphasizes the action that sets off the conflict, rather than the initial state.

onset of fighting

Focuses on the commencement of physical combat.

start of conflict

A simpler and broader term, applicable to various forms of disputes, not just armed conflicts.

launching of attacks

Emphasizes the aggressive commencement of military actions.

declaration of war

A formal announcement of the start of war, a specific type of "initiation of hostilities".

FAQs

What does "initiation of hostilities" mean?

The phrase "initiation of hostilities" refers to the beginning or commencement of acts of warfare or armed conflict. It's often used in legal, political, and historical contexts.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "initiation of hostilities"?

This phrase is best suited for formal writing, legal documents, or discussions about war and conflict. In everyday conversation, simpler terms like "start of the war" are preferable.

What are some alternatives to "initiation of hostilities"?

You can use alternatives such as "outbreak of hostilities", "start of conflict", or /s/commencement+of+war depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "initiation of hostilities" the same as "declaration of war"?

While related, they are not identical. /s/declaration+of+war is a formal act by a government, while "initiation of hostilities" refers to the actual commencement of fighting, which may or may not follow a formal declaration.