it began missing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it began missing" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a context where something started to be absent or lost, but it is more common to use a different construction. Example: "After the storm, it began missing from the shelf, and I couldn't find my favorite book."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The paper has been in default since June, when it began missing payments on its smaller junior debt.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Overnight, I began missing deadlines, canceling meetings and turning off the answering machine to avoid the sound of the telephone.

Huffington Post

Now, even if I'm away for a couple of days, I begin missing the shop.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I began missing it already in the taxi to the airport.

The Guardian

Then the business took a dip, and the company began missing its payments on the loans.

The New Yorker

"They had all sorts of excuses," Ms. Appelbaum said of Doskocil, which quickly began missing its earnings targets.

The New York Times

Veba began missing its earnings estimates.

Forbes

The boy began missing school.

The New York Times - Style

But then the Orangemen began missing and the Terriers rallied.

The New York Times - Sports

He began missing engagements and went on wild binges.

The New York Times - Arts

She began missing her old friends and neighbors, and a year ago she moved back.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "it began missing", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to and what is being missed, especially in formal writing. To enhance clarity, consider rephrasing to "it started to disappear" or "it began to be absent".

Common error

Avoid using "it began missing" if the antecedent of "it" is unclear or distant in the text. This can confuse readers. Always ensure that "it" clearly refers to a specific, previously mentioned subject to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it began missing" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of something being absent or lost. While understandable, Ludwig AI suggests that this phrasing is not standard and could be improved for clarity by using alternative constructions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it began missing" is used to indicate the start of something becoming absent or lost. However, Ludwig AI points out that it's not a standard phrase and may lack clarity. For better clarity and grammatical correctness, consider alternatives like "it started to disappear" or "it began to be absent". While the phrase appears across different contexts such as News & Media, Science and Wiki, it's advisable to use it carefully, ensuring that the context clearly defines what "it" refers to, especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it started to disappear

This alternative replaces "began missing" with "started to disappear", focusing on the gradual loss of visibility or presence.

it began to be absent

This alternative uses "began to be absent" to directly state the commencement of absence.

it started being lost

Changing "began missing" to "started being lost" emphasizes the initial state of being misplaced or unrecoverable.

it became deficient

This alternative, using "became deficient", focuses on the start of a lacking or insufficient state.

it commenced to lack

Replacing "began missing" with "commenced to lack" highlights the initiation of a deficiency or absence.

it initiated a decline

This alternative focuses on the start of a downward trend or reduction in something.

its absence became noticeable

This alternative emphasizes that the absence has become apparent.

it started to fade away

This alternative uses "started to fade away", focusing on a gradual disappearance or decline.

it gradually disappeared

This alternative describes the action over time, rather than the starting point.

its presence dwindled

This option focuses on the decreasing presence of something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it began missing" for clarity?

For better clarity, replace "it began missing" with alternatives such as "it started to disappear", "it began to be absent", or "it started being lost" depending on the specific context.

Is "it began missing" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "it began missing" is not the most conventional phrasing. Alternatives like "it started disappearing" or "it became lost" are generally preferred for improved grammatical correctness and clarity.

What does "it began missing" imply?

The phrase "it began missing" implies that something started to become absent, lost, or deficient. The exact meaning depends on the context, but it generally indicates the initial stage of something being no longer present or available.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "it began missing"?

It's best to use "it began missing" when you want to emphasize the starting point of an item's absence. However, consider using clearer alternatives like "it started disappearing" in formal writing to avoid ambiguity.