it began thus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it began thus" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to introduce the beginning of a story, event, or explanation, often in a formal or literary context. Example: "It began thus: on a stormy night, the villagers gathered in the town hall to discuss the strange occurrences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It began thus: The factor has been investigating far left billionaire George Soros a man who wants to impose a radical left agenda on America and, under the radar, he is making great progress.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It begins thus: 'Mr. Mark Twain — Sir: Sarrozay's beautiful place.

The New York Times

It begins thus: These books all dote on the minutiae of the three great American newspapers they describe... the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the New York Times.

The Guardian

It begins thus: 'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It begins thus... Chances are, if you watched Oscar contender Slumdog Millionaire, you were moved.

Huffington Post

While we all want a cure, what we need now is for researchers to focus on how to stop metastasis once it has begun, thus taking the fear out of a breast cancer diagnosis and making Stage 4 breast cancer a truly chronic disease.

The New York Times

So (every science statement begins thus nowadays), what are the ideas?

The Guardian - Opinion

It began in 2010 and thus was new three years ago, not "nine years ago".

The New York Times

The partner was a wonderful stylist, she was thrilled with her haircut and thus it began: secret trysts with the partner when the colorist was not in the salon.

The New York Times - Style

19.35 EST Thus, it begins.

The Guardian - Tech

Thus began and thus continues the deadliest postcolonial struggle in Oceania.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it began thus" to introduce a formal or literary recounting of events, especially when emphasizing the precise manner in which something started.

Common error

Avoid using "it began thus" in informal contexts; opt for more conversational alternatives like "it started like this" to maintain a natural flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it began thus" functions as an introductory clause, setting the stage for a narrative or explanation. As Ludwig AI underlines, it signals the commencement of a sequence of events, offering a formal or literary tone.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it began thus" serves as a formal introduction to a narrative or explanation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, and although it's not very frequent, it's appropriate for formal or literary contexts, particularly within news and media. Consider more casual alternatives like "it started like this" for informal settings. To ensure clarity and style, avoid overly formal language in casual conversation and leverage "it began thus" when a deliberate, stately tone is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it started in this manner

Replaces 'began' with 'started' and 'thus' with 'in this manner' for a slightly less formal tone.

it commenced in this way

Substitutes 'began' with 'commenced' and 'thus' with 'in this way', making the phrase more formal.

the genesis was as follows

Employs 'genesis' for 'beginning' and 'as follows' for 'thus' for a highly formal tone.

the initiation occurred like so

Uses 'initiation occurred' instead of 'it began' and 'like so' for 'thus', offering a more descriptive and stylized alternative.

it all got underway in this fashion

Offers a more descriptive and informal way of saying how something began.

the sequence of events unfolded this way

Replaces the original phrase with a more elaborate description of how things started.

this is how it all unfolded

Shifts the focus to the unfolding of events, rather than just the beginning.

the story started here

Simplifies the phrase, focusing on the starting point of a narrative.

the origin of it all was like this

Changes the structure to emphasize the origin or source of something.

that was the kickoff

Uses a more casual and idiomatic expression to indicate the start.

FAQs

What does "it began thus" mean?

The phrase "it began thus" means 'it started in this way'. It's often used to introduce a narrative or explanation, typically in a formal or literary style.

How can I use "it began thus" in a sentence?

You can use "it began thus" to formally introduce a sequence of events. For example: "It began thus: the king announced his decree, setting the kingdom on a new course."

What are some alternatives to "it began thus"?

Alternatives include "it started this way", "it commenced like this", or "this is how it started", depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is "it began thus" formal or informal?

"It began thus" leans towards the formal side. For informal contexts, consider using phrases like "it started like this" or "this is how it began".