start from the very beginning

USAGE SUMMARY

"start from the very beginning" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used when someone is beginning a story, explanation, or task and wants to emphasize the importance of starting at the very beginning. Example: "When asked to tell her life story, Sarah began, 'I was born in a small town in Nebraska. Let me start from the very beginning...'".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"I had to start from the very beginning, washing dishes and cleaning the floors," he said.

The New York Times

"Essentially, we had to start from the very beginning three years ago," said Alice Mahmood, director of information systems for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.

The New York Times - Sports

When I work with developers, I would like to start from the very beginning — to assist in what the property is, who the demographics will be that will buy the property, which then leads to key decisions as to who the architect should be, the interior designer and the type of unit mix.

The New York Times

Difficulties in assessing sustainability start from the very beginning – what is sustainable and how to define sustainability?

Forest Ecosystems

I teach Transitional Kindergarten and am able to meet the standards most of the time because the students enter my class and I start from the very beginning.

Huffington Post

They have gone through the war, lost their friends and relatives and came back to their empty houses to start from the very beginning.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

This is a technology startup that has never raised funds, that started from the very beginning with a strong focus on revenue.

Forbes

In this book, several aspects of multiobjective optimization starting from the very beginning to the most recent ones have been discussed in the form of various research papers in this field.

Mathematical Sciences

This figure shows that, starting from the very beginning time stage, we assume the dilated substates are the initial substates and the DSPs and SBIs are initialized to and, for all Next, in time stage, each group of substates calculates the CBM using the associated basis functions (9).

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

"You have to honor the fact that this was a group that we started from the very beginning.

Los Angeles Times

I help millennial couples and individuals cultivate the best relationships and marriages possible, starting from the very beginning with premarital counseling.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When explaining a complex topic, use "start from the very beginning" to signal a comprehensive, step-by-step explanation suitable for novices.

Common error

Avoid using "start from the very beginning" repeatedly in short succession. Instead, vary your language with synonyms like "start from scratch" or "begin anew" for smoother writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "start from the very beginning" functions as a prepositional phrase, often acting as an adverbial modifier. It indicates the point of origin or commencement of an action or process. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and can be used in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

37%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "start from the very beginning" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to emphasize the importance of commencing something at its most fundamental level. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and broad applicability. As demonstrated by examples, it serves to indicate a comprehensive approach, and it’s usage spans across multiple contexts, from news reporting to scientific explanations. While generally neutral in tone, remember to avoid overuse and to consider synonyms like "start from scratch" or "begin anew" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

start from the basics

Emphasizes focusing on fundamental principles before moving to more complex aspects.

start with the fundamentals

Similar to "start from the basics", but focuses explicitly on the fundamental aspects.

begin at the starting point

Focuses on the initial point without emphasizing thoroughness as much.

initiate from the ground up

Emphasizes building something progressively from a foundational level.

commence from scratch

Highlights the act of starting anew, implying a lack of prior development.

recommence from zero

Similar to starting from scratch, but with an emphasis on re-initiation.

begin at square one

Implies a return to the initial stage after a setback or failure.

go back to basics

Implies revisiting fundamental principles, often due to complexity or issues.

start fresh

Emphasizes a clean, unburdened beginning without necessarily implying a structured approach.

begin anew

Focuses on making a fresh start, often after something negative.

FAQs

How can I use "start from the very beginning" in a sentence?

You can use "start from the very beginning" when you want to emphasize that you are commencing something at the most fundamental level. For instance, "To understand quantum physics, we must "start from the very beginning" with basic mechanics".

What's a more concise way to say "start from the very beginning"?

If you need a shorter phrase, consider using "start from scratch" or "begin anew". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "start from the very beginning"?

While "beginning" implies the start, adding "from the very beginning" emphasizes a comprehensive, thorough approach. It's not always redundant but use it judiciously. Consider the impact you want to achieve.

Which is more appropriate: "start at the beginning" or "start from the very beginning"?

Both are correct, but "start from the very beginning" stresses completeness and thoroughness. "Start at the beginning" is a more general statement about where to commence.