start a pilgrimage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "start a pilgrimage" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the beginning of a journey or quest, often with a spiritual or religious significance. Example: "Many people choose to start a pilgrimage to seek spiritual enlightenment and personal growth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I also grew up here, in Jardines del Pedregal, a resonant enough place to start a pilgrimage.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

When everybody passed the security check, I started a pilgrimage through the duty free shops.

Huffington Post

Connect with the guest to start a new inner pilgrimage.

WikiHow

True Brown aficionados could start with a pilgrimage to the small village of Kirkharle in Northumberland, where he was born.

The Guardian - Travel

And definitely don't start a GoFundMe to make a pilgrimage to spread your cat's ashes over the Seine.

The New Yorker

They are the settings for the opening installment of the reality program "Miracle Workers," tonight on ABC, and the medical transformations depicted may well start a biblical sort of pilgrimage of the halt and the blind to their doors.

The New York Times - Arts

Resurrect a rusty career, start a new one, go on a pilgrimage, or start a business.

WikiHow

Sarria started an annual pilgrimage to Woodlawn Cemetery in Colma, California to visit the grave of her imagined husband, with coronation ceremonies for San Francisco's elected royalty taking place at the site.

Vice

Knowing that many Chicago firefighters who'd shared his experience also shared his passion for motorcycles, he started an annual pilgrimage from U.S. Cellular field to Manhattan, with stops along the way at the Pentagon and the site where Flight 93 went down in Pennsylvania, the Sun-Times reports.

Huffington Post

My quest to find why Goya became the darkest of all artists led me to follow in his footsteps, starting with a pilgrimage to the Principe Pio hill in Madrid.

The Guardian - Arts

In Kiev, the memorial has started to become a pilgrimage site.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "start a pilgrimage", consider the tone and context. Opt for more formal synonyms like "commence" or "undertake" in religious or academic writing.

Common error

Avoid using "start a pilgrimage" repeatedly in formal writing. Vary your language with synonyms like "initiate", "embark on", or "begin" to enhance readability and sophistication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "start a pilgrimage" functions as a verb phrase, where "start" is the main verb indicating the initiation of an action and "a pilgrimage" serves as the direct object. Ludwig confirms this usage as grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Wiki

16%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

11%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "start a pilgrimage" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe the commencement of a journey, typically with religious or spiritual significance. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and suggests alternatives like "begin a pilgrimage" or "embark on a pilgrimage". While the phrase is versatile, adapting the language to suit the formality of the context is advised. Predominantly found in News & Media, it holds a neutral register, suitable for various forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

begin a pilgrimage

Replacing 'start' with 'begin' provides a slightly more formal tone, emphasizing the commencement of the journey.

embark on a pilgrimage

Using 'embark on' suggests a more adventurous and deliberate initiation of the pilgrimage.

undertake a pilgrimage

Employing 'undertake' emphasizes the commitment and responsibility involved in beginning a pilgrimage.

commence a pilgrimage

Substituting 'start' with 'commence' lends a more formal and ceremonial feel to the beginning of the pilgrimage.

initiate a pilgrimage

Using 'initiate' highlights the act of formally setting the pilgrimage in motion.

set out on a pilgrimage

'Set out' emphasizes the physical act of beginning the journey.

kick off a pilgrimage

This is a more informal way to say "start a pilgrimage", often used in less solemn contexts.

launch a pilgrimage

Similar to 'initiate', 'launch' suggests a more organized and planned beginning to the pilgrimage.

go on a pilgrimage

This alternative is very common but a bit more generic as it doesn't necessarily mean that you are at the starting point.

undertake a spiritual journey

Broader term if the pilgrimage has spiritual connotations.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "start a pilgrimage"?

You can use alternatives like "begin a pilgrimage", "embark on a pilgrimage", or "undertake a pilgrimage" depending on the context.

How do I use "start a pilgrimage" in a sentence?

You can use "start a pilgrimage" to describe the beginning of a journey, often with religious or spiritual significance. For example: "Many people choose to "start a pilgrimage" to seek spiritual enlightenment and personal growth."

Which is correct, "start a pilgrimage" or "begin a pilgrimage"?

Both "start a pilgrimage" and "begin a pilgrimage" are grammatically correct, but "begin a pilgrimage" might be perceived as slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "start a pilgrimage" and "go on a pilgrimage"?

"Start a pilgrimage" refers specifically to the commencement of the journey, whereas "go on a pilgrimage" refers to the overall act of undertaking the journey itself.