keen to start

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keen to start" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express enthusiasm or eagerness to begin a task or project. Example: "I am keen to start the new project as soon as possible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Are you keen to start exporting?

The Guardian

"He's obviously keen to start the rehabilitation work as soon as possible.

The Guardian - Sport

Not keen, to start with, when Gordon unveiled the post-Rawnsley election strategy.

The Guardian

In general, however, his dreams were peaceful, and when he woke up in the morning he was in good spirits and keen to start work.

The New Yorker

The chancellor is also keen to start reducing the 79% stake in RBS, which received a £45bn taxpayer bailout during the crisis.

The Guardian - Business

High speed broadband internet access is much more popular, according to the survey, with more than 40% of internet users keen to start accessing the net this way.

The Guardian - Tech

John Kerry, a Democratic senator, and Dick Lugar, a Republican one, have sponsored a proposal to give visas to some immigrants keen to start new businesses.Tech folk have not given up on Mr Obama altogether.

The Economist

Sistema Scotland has said it was "keen to start working in the city but there are no firm plans at the moment".

BBC

Ensuring chaperones can be identified will need to be highlighted (as in the first postintervention cycle) by any departments keen to start using this tool.

BMJ Open

But policymakers are understandably keen to start work on redesigning their financial systems.

The Economist

McLeish is keen to start rebuilding his squad for the new campaign.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "keen to start" to convey enthusiasm and a positive attitude towards initiating a new activity, project, or phase. It's suitable for expressing eagerness without sounding overly formal.

Common error

While "keen to start" is acceptable in many situations, avoid using it in highly formal documents or academic papers. Opt for alternatives like "eager to commence" or "willing to initiate" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keen to start" functions as an adjectival phrase followed by an infinitive, modifying a subject and expressing a state of eagerness or willingness to commence an action. This is supported by Ludwig AI which confirms its common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keen to start" is a common and grammatically correct way to express eagerness or enthusiasm about beginning something. Ludwig AI validates its usage across a variety of contexts, primarily in news and media, but also in scientific and business domains. While generally acceptable, it is advisable to use more formal alternatives like "eager to commence" in highly formal settings. Remember to convey enthusiasm and a positive attitude when using "keen to start", and be mindful of the context to ensure the tone is appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eager to commence

Replaces "keen" with "eager" and "start" with "commence", resulting in more formal tone.

enthusiastic about beginning

Uses "enthusiastic" instead of "keen" and rephrases "start" using the gerund form of "begin".

willing to initiate

Substitutes "keen" with "willing" and "start" with "initiate", slightly altering the tone to emphasize readiness.

anxious to get underway

Replaces the core phrase with an idiomatic expression, conveying a sense of impatience to begin.

ready to launch

Uses "ready" instead of "keen" and "launch" instead of "start", implying a more proactive or planned beginning.

disposed to proceed

A more formal and less common way of saying "keen to start", suggesting a readiness to move forward.

all set to kick off

Employs a colloquial expression indicating preparation and excitement to begin.

longing to activate

Emphasizes a strong desire to start, using more evocative language.

up for initiating

An informal way to express willingness to start something, typically a project or activity.

game to get going

Informal phrase that shows someone's readiness and enthusiasm to start something.

FAQs

What does "keen to start" mean?

The phrase "keen to start" means enthusiastic or eager to begin something. It expresses a positive attitude and readiness to initiate an action or project.

How can I use "keen to start" in a sentence?

You can use "keen to start" in a sentence like, "The team is "keen to start" the new marketing campaign" or "She was "keen to start" her new job immediately".

What can I say instead of "keen to start"?

You can use alternatives like "eager to commence", "enthusiastic about beginning", or "willing to initiate" depending on the context.

Is "keen to start" formal or informal?

"Keen to start" is generally considered a neutral to slightly informal phrase. It's suitable for most everyday conversations and professional communications but might be too casual for very formal settings where alternatives like "disposed to proceed" would be more appropriate.