rain has started

USAGE SUMMARY

'rain has started' is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in a sentence such as: "We should hurry home, the rain has started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The heavy rain has started to ease.

The Guardian - Film

Some light rain has started as the umbrellas go up, fingers crossed that it passes quickly!

The New York Times

By the time I make it to the hollies the rain has started.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The rain has started falling, so we might not be on for long.

The Guardian - Sport

Since the rain has started it's become completely waterlogged – it's a mudbath with very unpleasant living conditions.

The Guardian

We're at Cannon Beach and have just got back to the car because the rain has started.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Rain had started falling in the top of the inning.

The New York Times

Outside, a cold rain had started to fall.

The New York Times - Magazine

The baby had been screaming non-stop ever since the rain had started.

The Guardian - Books

"It's obviously not that bad right now," he said of the weather before the expected rain had started.

The New York Times

"Each time the rain had started but then it suddenly stopped".Some longer-term solutions are being tried out.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rain has started" to clearly indicate the beginning of rainfall, especially when contrasting it with a previous state of no rain.

Common error

Avoid using "rain has started" when the context already implies that it's currently raining; instead, use a simpler phrase like "it's raining" if the starting point isn't relevant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rain has started" functions as an assertion indicating the commencement of rainfall. It often serves to introduce a change in weather conditions, as confirmed by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rain has started" is grammatically sound and serves to indicate the beginning of rainfall. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. While not exceptionally frequent, it commonly appears in news articles and general conversations. For alternative expressions, consider "it started to rain" or "the rain began". When using this phrase, remember that you want to emphasize that the rain is a new condition, and write accordingly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it started to rain

This alternative is more concise and focuses on the action of raining beginning.

the rain began

This alternative uses a different verb to indicate the commencement of rainfall.

rainfall commenced

This alternative is more formal and uses "commenced" instead of "started".

the heavens opened

This is a more figurative way of saying it started raining heavily.

it's raining now

This describes the current state of raining but implies it recently began.

the rain is coming down

This describes the ongoing action of rain, implying it started recently.

the first drops are falling

This focuses on the initial moments when rain begins.

a drizzle has begun

This specifies a light rain and indicates its start.

the downpour initiated

This alternative suggests a heavy rain that has just begun.

precipitation started

This uses a more technical term for rain and indicates its beginning.

FAQs

What is a more formal way to say "rain has started"?

A more formal way to express that the rain has started is to say "rainfall commenced".

What can I say instead of "rain has started" to indicate heavy rain?

To indicate heavy rain, you can use phrases like "the heavens opened" or "the downpour initiated".

How to use "rain has started" in a sentence?

You can use "rain has started" in a sentence like: "We should go inside now that the rain has started."

What's the difference between "rain has started" and "it's raining"?

"Rain has started" emphasizes the beginning of the rainfall, while "it's raining" simply describes the current state. You can also say "it started to rain".