plan to commence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plan to commence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating an intention to start a project, task, or event at a future time. Example: "We plan to commence the construction of the new building next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

This intense pressure induced the school board to announce its plan to commence desegregation at Central High School in September 1957.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Shell's plan to commence drilling in this untouched region — made possible thanks to rapidly melting ice – comes at a time when Nasa's former top climate scientist says we may see at least 10 feet of sea level rise by 2050 due to climate change.

The Guardian - Opinion

Alphabet's innovation lab X has a drone-focused team called Project Wing which has just announced a plan to commence aerial burrito delivery, in partnership with Chipotle, on the campus of Virgina Tech next week.

TechCrunch

So we put in place a plan to commence regular monitoring of my PSA.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Schneider plans to commence its tender offer in the middle of this month and close the deal in the third quarter.

The New York Times

There are no plans to commence the legislation on local connection: It affects a small percentage of the homeless households and still means someone gets settled accommodation.

The Guardian

"No matter what strategy is deployed, given the slow pace of global negotiations set against our rapidly changing weather systems, the Greens would like to see plans put in place for this process and planning to commence now – there is no time to waste," he says.

The Guardian

Adjuvant therapy was planned to commence once the lactation period was complete.

JA Clinical Reports

Circuit of Wales added that it planned to commence work on-site in 2015 and to host the British leg of the MotoGP championship in Wales as soon as phase one of the development is completed.

BBC

"Celtic Park [which will host the final] and Ibrox were identified very early on and in order for the planning to commence with our sponsors, particularly hosting two semi-finals back-to-back, we needed to make sure that we could deliver that on a weekend and nail down the commercials that go with organising stadiums and putting contracts in place.

BBC

The airline also plans to commence flights to Guangzhou and Kunming in China.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "plan to commence" when you want to formally express an intention to begin a project or activity. It adds a touch of formality suitable for business or official contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "plan to commence" in casual conversation. Simpler alternatives like "plan to start" or "intend to begin" are more appropriate for informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plan to commence" functions as an infinitive phrase, indicating an intention or arrangement to begin an action. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "plan to commence" is a grammatically correct infinitive phrase used to express an intention to begin something, as confirmed by Ludwig. While correct, it carries a level of formality, making it more suitable for professional, business, or official contexts. Simpler alternatives like "intend to begin" or "aim to start" may be more appropriate for casual settings. Although Ludwig's examples are rare, the phrase appears in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Science. When writing, consider the tone and audience to determine if "plan to commence" is the most fitting choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intend to begin

Replaces "plan" with "intend" and "commence" with "begin", offering a more straightforward expression of intent.

aim to start

Uses "aim" instead of "plan" and "start" instead of "commence", providing a simpler alternative.

schedule to initiate

Substitutes "plan" with "schedule" and "commence" with "initiate", emphasizing a planned beginning.

expect to launch

Replaces "plan" with "expect" and "commence" with "launch", suggesting an anticipated start.

prepare to undertake

Uses "prepare" instead of "plan" and "undertake" instead of "commence", focusing on readiness for a task.

arrange to inaugurate

Substitutes "plan" with "arrange" and "commence" with "inaugurate", highlighting the formal start of something.

propose to activate

Replaces "plan" with "propose" and "commence" with "activate", suggesting a formal suggestion to start something.

envisage starting

Uses "envisage" instead of "plan" and uses a gerund form of the word "start" shifting the focus to anticipation of a start.

project initiating

Substitutes "plan" with "project" making the phrase less common and uses a gerund form of the word "initiate" shifting the focus to anticipation of a start.

contemplate beginning

Replaces "plan" with "contemplate" and uses a gerund form of the word "begin" shifting the focus to considering the beginning of something.

FAQs

What does "plan to commence" mean?

The phrase "plan to commence" means to intend or make arrangements to begin something. It's a formal way of saying you're planning to start an activity or project.

What can I say instead of "plan to commence"?

You can use alternatives like "intend to begin", "aim to start", or "schedule to initiate" depending on the context.

Is "plan to commence" too formal for casual conversation?

Yes, "plan to commence" is generally too formal for casual conversation. Simpler phrases like "plan to start" or "going to begin" are more appropriate.

How do I use "plan to commence" in a sentence?

You can use "plan to commence" in sentences like: "The company plans to commence the new marketing campaign next quarter" or "We plan to commence construction on the new bridge in the spring."