Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

let's get underway
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Let's get underway.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Students in London will be paying up to £12,000-a-month to rent properties across the city as the international student letting season gets underway.

News & Media

Independent

That's just getting underway right now," he said.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Klahn's nervousness was evident as the match got underway.

News & Media

The New York Times

Just as February gets underway, and you start to lose steam when it comes to your own New Year's resolutions, let these women inspire you to keep going all year long.

News & Media

Huffington Post

9.04pm BST Let the ceremony begin... London 2012 officially gets underway with a whistle-stop montage of everyday life in the British isles, darting from cricket greens to scurrying geese to the London Eye to the thunderous opening bars of the Clash's London Calling and a sneering snippet of John Lydon singing God Save the Queen.

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

The reading got underway.

News & Media

The New Yorker

The race gets underway very shortly.

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

Nest building also gets underway in March.

News & Media

The Guardian

This week official campaigning gets underway.

News & Media

The Economist

Games are getting underway around the league.

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

The phrase has a nautical origin (a ship moving through water), making it particularly effective when suggesting a sense of forward momentum.

Common error

While the query is perfect for indicating action is starting, avoid using 'underway' immediately before a noun (e.g., 'the underway trial'). Instead, use 'ongoing' or 'in-progress' for that specific grammatical role.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "let's get underway" serves as a phrasal directive or hortatory imperative. It combines the contraction "let's" (let us) with a phrasal verb structure that functions to synchronize the actions of a group. According to Ludwig, the phrase effectively marks a temporal boundary between preparation and execution.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki & General Knowledge

15%

Science & Research

10%

Less common in

Legal Documents

Academic Textbooks

Social Media

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "let's get underway" is a versatile and professionally acceptable phrase used to initiate a collective action. While Ludwig data shows the exact four-word string is relatively rare compared to variations like "getting underway", its usage in high-authority sources like The New York Times proves its validity. It provides a more dynamic and professional tone than a simple "let's start", successfully bridging the gap between casual conversation and the formal execution of a task. Writers should feel confident using it to mark the beginning of meetings, events, or projects.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

let's get started

Standard, broadly applicable alternative

let's begin

Slightly more formal tone

let's kick off

Idiomatic, often used in sports or project launches

shall we begin

Significantly more formal or polite inquiry

let's set things in motion

Emphasizes the initiation of a complex process

let's dive in

Metaphorical and informal, suggesting immediate action

let's get the show on the road

Colloquial and energetic

let's commence

Highly formal, often reserved for official ceremonies

let's get cracking

Informal and implies an urgent or active start

let's set off

Specifically relates to starting a physical journey

FAQs

How do I use "let's get underway" in a sentence?

You can use it as a standalone call to action to start an event, such as "Okay, everyone is here, so "let's get underway"." or incorporate it into a longer sentence like "Before "let's get underway", I would like to thank our sponsors."

What is a more formal alternative to "let's get underway"?

If you are in a highly official setting, you might prefer "shall we begin" or "let's commence" to maintain a formal register.

Is it "underway" or "under way"?

Both are historically correct, but the one-word version is now more common in modern American English. In British English, you may still see "under way" used as two separate words more frequently.

When is it inappropriate to say "let's get underway"?

Avoid using this phrase if the activity has already been happening for a long time; it specifically signals the moment of starting. In those cases, you might say "let's keep going" instead.

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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let's get underwayGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

let's get underway
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples