serving as a starting point

USAGE SUMMARY

"serving as a starting point" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate the beginning or initial stage of something. For example: - "The meeting will serve as a starting point for our discussion." - "The first chapter of the book is serving as a starting point for the rest of the story." - "We need to establish a budget, which will serve as a starting point for our financial planning."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Sarah Jessica Parker's new movie is serving as a starting point for women to talk openly about their challenges as working parents.

The New York Times

Finally, high-pressure simulations were performed, serving as a starting point for the future work.

Combustion and Flame

To remove the thermodynamic vibration effect, ten points are chosen randomly in the range of the last 10 ps at the equilibrated state, serving as a starting point of the uniaxial test.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Current treatment strategies may therefore affect the bulk of the tumor cells but leave CSCs behind, serving as a starting point for disease recurrence.

Breast Cancer Research

Synthetic lethal screens are an essential component of a geneticist's toolbox, serving as a starting point to identify gene products with similar or overlapping functions, and pathways with parallel or compensatory mechanisms.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

We used a phylogenetic approach to determine molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs), i.e. preliminary molecular units unaffected by existing nomenclature serving as a starting point for further species delineation approaches.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

This served as a starting point for my story".

The Guardian - Books

The letter could also serve as a starting point for a loan modification and other programs.

The New York Times

"Pleadings are full of hyperbolic and untrue statements that serve as a starting point.

The New York Times

Still, the article serves as a starting point and provides links to more information.

The Economist

"On the contrary," the opinion continued, "the state plan serves as a starting point for the district court.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "serving as a starting point" to clearly indicate that something is the beginning or foundation for further development, discussion, or action. Ensure the context makes it clear what will be built upon this starting point.

Common error

Avoid using "serving as a starting point" without specifying what it initiates. Ensure the sentence clearly indicates the subsequent steps or outcomes that follow from this initial phase. For example, instead of "This data serves as a starting point", say "This data serves as a starting point for our analysis of customer behavior".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serving as a starting point" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a subject complement or part of a prepositional phrase. It describes an action or process that initiates something further. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "serving as a starting point" functions as a gerund phrase used to indicate the beginning or foundation of something, and Ludwig confirms that it's grammatically correct and usable across various contexts. While most frequently found in scientific and academic writing, it also appears in news and formal communications. The phrase can be replaced by "acting as a foundation" or "providing a basis" for similar meanings. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what the starting point initiates to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

constituting a preliminary step

Emphasizes the sequential and preparatory nature of the action.

providing a basis

Highlights the aspect of giving a rationale or justification for further action.

offering an initial framework

Stresses the provision of structure and organization at the outset.

acting as a foundation

Focuses on providing a base or groundwork, emphasizing the support provided.

functioning as a launchpad

Implies a more dynamic and forward-moving initiation, emphasizing momentum.

laying the groundwork

Focuses on the preparatory actions taken before a main activity.

setting the stage

Suggests creating an environment or context for something to happen.

paving the way

Emphasizes removing obstacles and making progress easier.

serving as an impetus

Highlights the role of instigating or driving forward.

kicking things off

More informal, indicating the start of something in a casual manner.

FAQs

How can I use "serving as a starting point" in a sentence?

You can use "serving as a starting point" to indicate the beginning or foundation of something. For example: "This research is serving as a starting point for our understanding of the disease", or "The initial design is serving as a starting point for the new product development".

What are some alternatives to "serving as a starting point"?

Alternatives to "serving as a starting point" include phrases like "acting as a foundation", "providing a basis", or "constituting a preliminary step".

Is it better to use "serve as a starting point" or "serving as a starting point"?

Both "serve as a starting point" and "serving as a starting point" are grammatically correct, but they function differently. "Serve as a starting point" is an infinitive phrase, while "serving as a starting point" is a gerund phrase. The choice depends on the sentence structure. For instance, use "serve" after 'will' or 'can', and "serving" as a subject or after a preposition.

In what contexts is "serving as a starting point" most appropriate?

"Serving as a starting point" is appropriate in academic, scientific, and professional contexts where you need to clearly indicate that something is the initial step in a process or analysis. It is also appropriate in news and media contexts, but depending on the style it can also be slightly rephrased.