it started to rain

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "It started to rain" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to describe changing weather conditions, for example, "The sun had been shining all afternoon, but then suddenly it started to rain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It started to rain.

The New Yorker

It started to rain lightly.

The New York Times - Travel

Soon, it started to rain.

The New York Times

And then it started to rain.

The New York Times - Magazine

Worse, it started to rain, soaking me.

The New York Times

And then it started to rain, heavily.

The Guardian

The following day it started to rain.

The Guardian

It started to rain at the weekend.

The Guardian

All was going fairly well until it started to rain.

Independent

Then it started to rain, and the musicians went inside.

The New Yorker

"It started to rain and then to thunder.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it started to rain" to clearly and simply indicate the beginning of rainfall. It's universally understood and suitable for most contexts.

Common error

While alternatives like "the heavens opened" can add color, overusing them can make your writing sound melodramatic or unnatural. "It started to rain" is often the clearest and most effective choice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it started to rain" functions as an intransitive verb phrase indicating the commencement of an action (raining). Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it started to rain" is a grammatically sound and very common way to describe the onset of rainfall. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use. It's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, due to its neutral register and clarity. While there are more descriptive alternatives, "it started to rain" provides a simple and effective way to convey this weather event. Remember to avoid overusing alternatives to maintain a natural tone in your writing. Use it to set up the scene or justify subsequent actions, and you'll be on the right track.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it began raining

A slightly more concise way of expressing the onset of rain.

rain began to fall

Emphasizes the action of the rain falling rather than the start of the event.

the rain set in

Suggests the rain has established itself and is likely to continue.

the downpour began

Indicates the start of heavy rain.

a shower began

Specifies that it was a light or brief period of rain.

the drizzle commenced

Describes the beginning of light rain.

rainfall commenced

A more formal way to describe the beginning of rain.

the heavens opened

A more dramatic and figurative way to describe the start of heavy rain.

it started precipitating

Uses a more technical term for rainfall.

the weather turned wet

Focuses on the change in overall weather condition to wetness.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "it started to rain"?

You can use alternatives like "rain began to fall", "it began raining", or "the heavens opened" depending on the context.

How do I use "it started to rain" in a sentence?

"It started to rain" is usually followed by information about the consequences or reactions to the rain. For example, "It started to rain, so we went inside".

Is "it started raining" grammatically correct compared to "it started to rain"?

Both "it started raining" and "it started to rain" are grammatically correct and widely used. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.

What is the register of "it started to rain"?

The phrase "it started to rain" has a neutral register, suitable for both informal and formal contexts. It is a straightforward and widely understood expression.