she started cutting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she started cutting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone begins the action of cutting, whether it be food, materials, or in a metaphorical sense. Example: "As the chef prepared for the dinner service, she started cutting the vegetables for the salad."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

She started cutting school.

The New York Times - Magazine

"She started cutting back on what she was eating," Ms. Santana recalled.

The New York Times

Then, within a year, she started cutting the clothes up, transforming them into sculptures and the collages she called "fabric drawings".

The Economist

After getting over her head in credit card debt, she said she started cutting in half each new card that arrived in the mail.

The New York Times

Science has not lost its lure for her; she started cutting up worms at age 3, and still remembers her first try at a date.

The New York Times

She had softly massaged my head and neck before she started cutting and she breezily discussed just about any topic while making her customer feel at ease.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"When my mother sees her stock of drugs declining, she starts cutting the pills and taking half a dose.

The Guardian

Make sure you are comfortable with the agreed style before she starts cutting.

WikiHow

Once you confirmed the style with the stylist and she starts cutting, place your trust in her ability and try to relax.

WikiHow

She isn't me, but if she stopped spending all our money and started cutting taxes, she could think like me".

The New York Times

Assaulted by a young lad when she was 16 and then verbally abused by him online, she told no one but started cutting.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "she started cutting", ensure the context clarifies what is being cut. For example, specify "she started cutting vegetables" or "she started cutting fabric" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by always specifying what is being cut after the phrase "she started cutting". Omitting the object can lead to confusion or misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she started cutting" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of an action performed by a female subject. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts, denoting the beginning of a cutting action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

22%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "she started cutting" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to denote the initiation of a cutting action by a female subject. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it finds common usage across various contexts, especially in News & Media. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to specify the object being cut. While the phrase itself maintains a neutral tone, the surrounding context can influence the overall formality. Alternatives like "she began to cut" or "she initiated cutting" can offer subtle variations in meaning and tone. Remember to always specify the object of cutting to prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she began to cut

Replaces "started" with "began", offering a slightly more formal tone.

she initiated cutting

Substitutes "started" with "initiated", emphasizing the act of beginning something.

she commenced cutting

Uses "commenced" instead of "started", which is more formal and implies a deliberate beginning.

she proceeded to cut

Suggests a sequential action, where cutting follows something else.

she set about cutting

Emphasizes the purposeful nature of starting to cut.

she undertook cutting

Replaces "started" with "undertook", suggesting a task or endeavor.

she launched into cutting

Suggests an energetic or sudden start to the cutting action.

she got around to cutting

Implies a delay before starting the cutting action.

she made a start at cutting

Implies an initial attempt at cutting, possibly with more to follow.

she was cutting

Implies the cutting action may have already begun to a small extent.

FAQs

How to use "she started cutting" in a sentence?

Use "she started cutting" to describe the action of a female subject beginning to cut something. For example, "She started cutting the paper" or "She started cutting class".

What can I say instead of "she started cutting"?

You can use alternatives like "she began to cut", "she initiated cutting", or "she commenced cutting" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "she started cutting" or "she starts cutting"?

"She started cutting" is used when referring to a past action. "She starts cutting" is used when describing a habitual or present action.

What's the difference between "she started cutting" and "she was cutting"?

"She started cutting" indicates the beginning of the action, whereas "she was cutting" implies that the action was already in progress at a certain point in time.