start fear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "start fear" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express the initiation of fear or the beginning of a fearful situation, but it lacks clarity and proper usage. Example: "When the lights went out, I could feel the start of fear creeping in."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Supporters of Head Start fear the cuts would put more children at a disadvantage even before they reach kindergarten.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

They will start fearing".

The Guardian

Once her neighbors show they do not fear this guy, he may be canny enough to start fearing them.

The New York Times - Magazine

"When you have a lot of injuries, sometimes you can get down and start fearing being injured as opposed to looking toward playing," O'Brien, 28, said last week at the United States national team's training camp in Cary, N.C.

The New York Times - Sports

Sufjan Stevens Songs for Christmas (Asthmatic Kitty), £11.99 Before you start fearing for his sanity, this is not another concept project from the prolific Stevens, but a clear-out of the Christmas songs he has recorded over the past five years.

The Guardian - Music

Venezuela opened oil contracts in euros to hedge against the dollar - a canny investment strategy - and the market started fearing for other big names.

The Guardian - Business

The two managers say they started fearing a housing bubble in 2006 and shifting out of then popular corporate bonds and into government and quasi-government paper, which was yielding only a hair less.

Forbes

"To be honest, I started fearing [after Trump signed the executive order].

Huffington Post

Until a lot of people started fearing he might actually be the guy.

Vice

With luck, there will be 9,000 sunsets to get the great work done, before one starts fearing cancer and death.

Vice

I started fearing to live with the problem the rest of my life.

BMC Women's Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of "start fear", use more idiomatic phrases like "begin to fear" or "start to feel fear" for better clarity and acceptance.

Common error

Avoid using "start fear" directly. It's grammatically awkward. Opt for clearer alternatives that specify who or what is starting to feel the fear. For example, "people "begin to fear"" is more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "start fear" is grammatically questionable and functions as an attempt to describe the commencement of feeling fear. Based on Ludwig AI, it's not the correct form to use.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Wiki

34%

Science

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "start fear" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in formal writing. As Ludwig AI suggests, more appropriate alternatives like ""begin to fear"" or "start to feel fear" should be preferred to accurately convey the intended meaning. While the phrase appears across various source types, its rarity and grammatical issues make it a less desirable option. Although present in News & Media, Science and Wiki, the overall infrequent usage makes it unsuitable in professional contexts. It’s best to opt for clearer, more accepted alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

begin to fear

Replaces "start" with a more common and grammatically sound verb "begin".

commence to fear

Substitutes "start" with the more formal "commence", indicating the inception of fear.

initiate fear

Uses "initiate" to convey the beginning or triggering of fear, focusing on the cause.

develop a fear

Focuses on the gradual emergence and building of fear over time.

feel the onset of fear

Emphasizes the initial sensation or experience of fear taking hold.

sense the beginning of fear

Highlights the perception or awareness of fear as it starts.

awaken to fear

Implies a sudden realization or awareness that leads to fear.

find oneself fearing

Focuses on the realization that one has begun to experience fear.

become fearful

Shifts the focus to the state of being afraid rather than the beginning of the fear.

experience initial fear

Highlights the first instance or occurrence of feeling fear.

FAQs

Is "start fear" grammatically correct?

No, "start fear" is not grammatically correct. It's better to use phrases like ""begin to fear"" or "start to feel fear".

What are some alternatives to "start fear"?

Alternatives include ""begin to fear"", "start to feel fear", or "develop a fear", which are more grammatically sound.

How can I use the idea of "starting fear" in a sentence correctly?

Instead of "start fear", you could say "People "begin to fear" the consequences" or "They start to feel fear when they realize the danger".

What's the difference between "start fear" and ""begin to fear""?

"Start fear" is grammatically incorrect and not idiomatic. "Begin to fear" is grammatically sound and conveys the idea of initiating the feeling of fear.