set in motion a project

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "set in motion a project" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the initiation or commencement of a project or plan. Example: "After months of planning, we finally set in motion a project to improve our community park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The French environment minister, Jean-Louis Borloo, has set in motion a project to eradicate PCBs from Paris's waters.

The New York Times

With the producers Barrie M. Osborne and Tim Sanders, Mr. Jackson and his wife and co-writer, Fran Walsh, set in motion a project of extraordinary scope.

The New York Times

The modest feature, published on this site, struck a nerve with book lovers and set in motion a project to draw a full collection of bookstores around the world.

The New Yorker

She points to some of Bangladesh's relatively progressive policies, including some that favour augmenting women's access to public land, as well as a judiciary that is much more sympathetic to women's rights than Pakistan's.The government has also set in motion a project to digitise all of Bangladesh's land records (the European Commission has chipped in €10m, or $13.3m).

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The agreement sets in motion a project that will take years to identify the land to be protected, to arrange the financing for the effort and to decide how to manage the forests and enforce the conservation rules.

The New York Times

He could set in motion a Labor walkout.

The New York Times

This visit was to set in motion a new project: a book of backstage photographs taken by Peverelli at Chanel fashion shows.

The New Yorker

A small group of Liberian refugees had gathered there to set in motion a grand project: Beginning next month, Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission will collect testimony on Staten Island, home to one of the largest populations of Liberians outside Africa, many of them survivors of 14 years of civil war.

The New York Times

We passed what was called Assembly Bill 32 that set in motion a number of projects, including a cap-and-trade system which has been working now for two years.

Huffington Post

Talk story about the publication of a 400-page Trictionary, which renders some 3000 words in their Spanish, English, and Chinese forms, and which has been published by Art Resources for Teachers and Students or ARTS, an organization that has set in motion a variety of cultural projects on the lower East Side over the past twelve years.

The New Yorker

By Alastair Reid The New Yorker, May 10 , 1982P. 31 Talk story about the publication of a 400-page Trictionary, which renders some 3000 words in their Spanish, English, and Chinese forms, and which has been published by Art Resources for Teachers and Students or ARTS, an organization that has set in motion a variety of cultural projects on the lower East Side over the past twelve years.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "set in motion a project" to emphasize the initial action that starts a series of events leading to the project's progress. It is particularly useful when the commencement involves multiple steps or dependencies.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice with this phrase (e.g., "the project was set in motion") when you can clearly identify the actor who initiated the project. Using the active voice makes the sentence more direct and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "set in motion a project" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the initiation or commencement of a specific undertaking. As shown by Ludwig, it emphasizes the act of starting something with a series of related actions likely to follow.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "set in motion a project" is a grammatically correct and usable English expression that indicates the initiation or commencement of a project. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides various examples of its use in reputable sources. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts and can be used in formal and professional settings. While alternatives like "initiate a project" or "launch a project" exist, "set in motion a project" emphasizes the initial action that triggers a series of subsequent events. Ensure that the active voice is preferred over the passive, and remember that its use implies a more complex or phased beginning to the project.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initiate a project

Uses a more formal verb to describe starting the project.

launch a project

Suggests a more public and formal beginning.

start a project

A more basic and general way to describe beginning work.

commence a project

Emphasizes the formal beginning of the project.

trigger a project

Suggests that the project is a response to something.

get a project underway

Focuses on the project beginning its course of action.

kick off a project

An informal expression for starting a project.

activate a project

Indicates bringing the project to an active state.

institute a project

Implies a formal and established initiation.

establish a project

Highlights the act of formally creating and beginning the project.

FAQs

What does "set in motion a project" mean?

The phrase "set in motion a project" means to initiate or start a project, often implying a series of actions or events are triggered as a result.

How can I use "set in motion a project" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe the beginning of a project, such as, "The board's approval "set in motion a project" to modernize the company's infrastructure."

What are some alternatives to "set in motion a project"?

Alternatives include "initiate a project", "launch a project", or "start a project", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it better to say "start a project" or "set in motion a project"?

"Start a project" is more general, while "set in motion a project" implies a more complex beginning with multiple steps or dependent actions. Choose the phrase that best reflects the nature of the project's initiation.