kick off a process

USAGE SUMMARY

"kick off a process" is correct and is used often in written English.
You can use it to refer to the beginning of a process or project. Example: We will use this meeting to kick off the new employee onboarding process.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Speaking ahead of his arrival in Brussels, Mr Cameron said: "This presents an opportunity to get the negotiation under way and to kick off a process to work through the substance and to find solutions.

Independent

Fundamentally, this summit was supposed to kick off a process through which the two countries were going to try to move to a more win-win relationship, rather than the zero-sum "I win, you lose" frame that has dominated US-North Korea relations since, well, forever.

BBC

The Bratislava summit of 16 September will be "an opportunity for a frank and open discussion" in the aftermath of the UK referendum and "will kick off a process" of finding "common ground" in "migration, internal and external security", he said.

European Parliament

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

This kicks off a process of miniaturisation in hormonally sensitive areas such as the forehead and crown.

The Guardian

This plan sets goals for making New York City schools more diverse, introduces reforms that we'll make in the coming months, and, perhaps most importantly, kicks off a process of soliciting and implementing additional changes from New York City school communities.

The Washington Post

By submitting its confidential S-1, Pluralsight is kicking off a process that would lead to the Farmington, Utah-based company opening up its books in a public S-1 and then hitting the road to woo investors in upcoming weeks ahead of a potential spring listing.

Forbes

The first stage of Pacific Amphitheatre's renovation began this week, kicking off a process that officials say ultimately will make the Orange County Fairgrounds venue more intimate.

Los Angeles Times

If the current trade arrangement was allowed to expire, and Europe blocked U.S. wine imports, the United States probably would file a complaint with the World Trade Organization, Rollo said, kicking off a process that could take a year or more to resolve.

Los Angeles Times

In tentatively approving the document, which was more than a year in the making, the two nations kicked off a process that will eventually see a vastly diminished American troop presence while still preserving what both nations' leaders argue is a vital military and financial alliance.

Huffington Post

The DfT will also kick off a review process of the laws governing road use, including the Highway Code and the Road Safety Act, to permit the testing of driverless cars on public roads, Cable said while visiting the technology and engineering company Mira in Nuneaton.

The Guardian - Tech

The board voted to kick off a yearlong process of gathering input and looking at existing policies before potentially adopting the new rules.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kick off a process" to emphasize the initiation of a project or procedure, often with a sense of enthusiasm or energy. It's suitable for contexts where a clear starting point is being highlighted.

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid overusing "kick off a process" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for alternatives like "initiate" or "commence" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kick off a process" functions as a phrasal verb, serving to denote the start or initiation of a particular procedure, project, or endeavor. As Ludwig AI points out, it is considered grammatically correct and commonly used. The examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "kick off a process" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrasal verb that signifies the commencement of a procedure or project. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and offers examples across various contexts. While its register is generally neutral, it's advisable to consider more formal alternatives like "initiate" or "commence" in highly academic or professional settings. The phrase is most frequently found in news media and formal business publications, emphasizing its versatile yet context-sensitive usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initiate a process

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the beginning of a process.

start a process

This alternative is a simpler and more direct way to express the same idea.

begin a process

Similar to "start a process", but slightly more formal.

commence a process

This is a more formal and less common alternative.

launch a process

This alternative emphasizes the active and deliberate start of a process.

set in motion a process

This alternative emphasizes the idea of starting something that will continue on its own.

get a process underway

This alternative focuses on beginning a process with a sense of progress.

trigger a process

This alternative highlights the action that initiates the chain of events.

spark a process

This alternative suggests a sudden and energetic beginning of a process.

instigate a process

This alternative implies a deliberate and sometimes forceful starting of a process.

FAQs

What does "kick off a process" mean?

The phrase "kick off a process" means to begin or initiate a particular procedure, project, or set of actions.

How can I use "kick off a process" in a sentence?

You can use "kick off a process" in a sentence like this: "The meeting will "initiate a process" to gather feedback from employees."

Are there more formal alternatives to "kick off a process"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "initiate a process", "begin a process", or "commence a process". They are often preferred in academic or business contexts.

Is it appropriate to use "kick off a process" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, it's often better to use more formal alternatives like "start a process" or "launch a process" in highly formal or academic writing to maintain a professional tone.