rain starts falling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rain starts falling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the beginning of rainfall in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "As we walked through the park, we noticed that the rain starts falling, prompting us to seek shelter under a nearby tree."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Sometimes rain starts falling and evaporates before reaching the ground.

University of California, Berkeley

When my time is up, "rain" starts falling on me, sluicing the mud off.

The Guardian - Travel

The conversation on water reclamation needs to be loud enough to continue once the rain starts falling again.

Los Angeles Times

As rain starts falling, she watches the couple who took her autograph sharing a romantic moment under a jacket as she and Rahul had done when he was alive.

Wikipedia

And when the clouds turn off the lights of the sky and rain starts falling down In that little clay box I want to take shelter And I can't hide it any longer, and I must accept That without that little clay box I don't know what to do I don't know what to do.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"Rain started falling at the beginning of the second half.

The Guardian - Sport

Since I had kept expectations as low as the cost, they were met long before the rain started falling.

The New York Times

Rain started falling and I was surprised by the orange, tannin-tinted color of the river water.

The New York Times - Travel

It looked all over when Contador put in that almost perfect performance and the rain started falling for Froome.

The Guardian - Sport

But with that match still in progress when rain started falling just after 7.20pm, tournament officials called Robson's game off for the day.

The Guardian - Sport

Pa had listened to the voice of God before the rain started falling and built an ark in his Los Angeles backyard.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scene in a story or report, use "rain starts falling" to signal a change in the weather and a potential shift in the narrative's mood or events. This can create a sense of immediacy and anticipation for the reader.

Common error

While "rain starts falling" is perfectly acceptable, overuse it in scientific or formal reports. Opt for more precise terminology such as "precipitation commences" to maintain a professional tone and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rain starts falling" functions as a descriptive statement indicating the commencement of precipitation. It sets the scene or provides context, aligning with Ludwig's assessment as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

15%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rain starts falling" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to describe the beginning of a rainfall event. While Ludwig confirms its correctness, its frequency is relatively rare. It finds its primary use in news and media, but also appears in wiki articles, academia and formal documents, providing a versatile option for describing the onset of precipitation. When writing, consider the context and audience to determine if a more formal alternative, such as "precipitation commences", might be more appropriate. Despite its simplicity, this phrase effectively conveys a change in weather, setting the scene in different types of narratives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rain begins to fall

Employs 'begins' instead of 'starts' offering a slight variation in describing the onset of rain.

rainfall begins

Synonymous, but uses the noun 'rainfall' to describe the phenomenon.

it starts to rain

Changes the structure to a more general statement about the weather.

rain commences falling

Uses the more formal 'commences' to indicate the start of rain, altering the tone.

rain initiates falling

Replaces 'starts' with 'initiates', giving a slightly more technical or formal feel.

the rain is beginning

Uses a continuous tense, focusing on the ongoing process of the rain starting.

precipitation begins

Substitutes 'rain' with the broader term 'precipitation', generalizing the type of falling moisture.

the first drops of rain begin to fall

Adds detail by specifying 'first drops', emphasizing the initial stage of rainfall.

a shower begins

Replaces 'rain' with 'shower', suggesting a lighter rainfall intensity.

the heavens open

Offers a metaphorical description of heavy rain starting suddenly.

FAQs

How can I use "rain starts falling" in a sentence?

You can use "rain starts falling" to describe the beginning of a rainfall event. For example, "As we walked through the forest, the "rain starts falling", and we quickly sought shelter."

What is a more formal way to say "rain starts falling"?

A more formal way to say "rain starts falling" is "precipitation begins" or "rainfall commences". These phrases are suitable for scientific reports or formal documents.

What are some alternatives to "rain starts falling"?

You can use alternatives like "rain begins to fall", "it starts to rain", or "the rain is beginning" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "rain is starting to fall" instead of "rain starts falling"?

Yes, "rain is starting to fall" is also correct. It uses the present continuous tense to emphasize the ongoing process of the rain beginning, while ""rain starts falling"" describes the general onset of rain.