start a brainstorming

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "start a brainstorming" is not correct in standard English; it should be "start brainstorming." You can use it when initiating a session where ideas are generated collaboratively, typically in a group setting.
Example: "Let's start brainstorming ideas for our new marketing campaign."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If you are stuck, then start a brainstorming session with a friend or a colleague.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Justin Nowak lists five reasons you shouldn't start a business alone: "Brainstorming with other people is the best way to figure out what your business needs to succeed.

The New York Times

On the flight home from Austin, I pulled out my iPad and started a frenetic brainstorming session listing all the possible organizations to get involved with, internships to apply to, influencers to contact, topics to write about, websites to write for, causes to advocate.

Huffington Post

"All I'm trying to do is start a similar process of brainstorming.

The New York Times

Most of them never get past the "Dude, we should start a band" and furious name brainstorming stage.

Vice

Start from a brainstorm of the three inner concepts of Law, Education, and Religion ruling a society within three concepts of Politics, Industrialization, and Urbanization in the outer layer Read about the concept of communication between humans.

WikiHow

JD, CVDV and LWTS started with a brainstorm phase to generate the initial set (based on previous discussions) followed by a series of discussions with all authors.

BMC Medical Education

The development and validation of design guidelines was divided into four phases, starting with a brainstorm phase to generate ideas using a core group of experts (JD, CvdV and LWTS), followed by a series of discussions with a wider group of international experts to elaborate on this brainstorm.

BMC Medical Education

"We took over a classroom and started a massive three-day brainstorming session," Mr. Shillingburg said.

The New York Times

After spending a few days in Austin, which lost Uber and Lyft almost a year ago, I started brainstorming a post about how the city was doing just fine without either of the ridesharing giants.

TechCrunch

However, if Apple should get the win, Amazon will likely have to start brainstorming for a new name.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the grammatically correct phrase "start brainstorming" instead of "start a brainstorming".

Common error

Avoid using the article "a" between "start" and "brainstorming". The correct phrasing is "start brainstorming" without the article.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "start a brainstorming" functions as an imperative when used to suggest or initiate the action of brainstorming. While grammatically questionable, the intention is typically to prompt idea generation, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

34%

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "start a brainstorming" is considered grammatically incorrect; the standard form is "start brainstorming". Ludwig examples show that while used, it's less common. It typically aims to initiate a creative session. For clearer communication, consider using alternatives such as "begin brainstorming" or "initiate a brainstorming session".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Begin brainstorming

Replaces "start a" with the single word "begin", creating a more concise and grammatically sound phrase.

Commence brainstorming

Uses a more formal verb, "commence", to initiate the brainstorming process.

Initiate a brainstorming session

Replaces the verb "start" with "initiate" and adds "session" for clarity and formality.

Kick off a brainstorming

Uses the idiomatic expression "kick off" to indicate the beginning of a brainstorming session.

Launch brainstorming activities

Employs "launch" to suggest a more active beginning to brainstorming.

Embark on brainstorming

Uses "embark on" to convey a sense of starting a journey or project with brainstorming.

Open a brainstorming

Uses a simpler verb, "open", to denote the beginning of brainstorming.

Get the brainstorming underway

Uses a more descriptive phrase to emphasize the beginning of the brainstorming process.

Start generating ideas

Focuses on the core action of brainstorming: generating ideas.

Begin idea generation

Highlights the act of creating ideas, using a more formal tone.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "start a brainstorming"?

The correct phrasing is to say "start brainstorming" without the article "a". For example, "Let's "start brainstorming" ideas for the project".

Is it grammatically correct to say "start a brainstorming session"?

Yes, "start a brainstorming session" is grammatically correct. However, it's more concise and equally valid to say ""start brainstorming"".

What are some alternative phrases for "start brainstorming"?

Some alternatives include "begin brainstorming", "initiate brainstorming", or "kick off brainstorming", depending on the context.

When should I use "start brainstorming" versus "start a brainstorming session"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but ""start brainstorming"" is more direct and concise. Use "start a brainstorming session" when you want to emphasize the formal structure of the activity.