start of august

USAGE SUMMARY

"start of August" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to a specific date or timeframe at the beginning of the month of August. For example, "I'm looking forward to my vacation at the start of August."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He had nine blown saves by the start of August.

The New York Times - Sports

Heavy Azeri losses at the start of August provoked bellicose rhetoric from the president, Ilham Aliyev.

The Economist

This one stinks already and it's only the start of August.

The Guardian - Opinion

He should fly back to Manchester at the start of August, before the Community Shield.

The Guardian - Sport

Since the start of August, he's given up four earned runs in 82 1/3 innings.

The Guardian - Sport

As recently as the start of August, some polls showed the "yes" camp trailing by double digits.

The New Yorker

That was a jump of six points compared with a poll taken at the start of August.

The New Yorker

All That Is Wrong opens on Wednesday before heading to the Traverse in Edinburgh at the start of August.

The Guardian

Maroth (7-20) had been 0-5 in six starts since beating Minnesota in his first start of August.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

In Singapore, the recent pandemic caused an outbreak that peaked at the start of August 2009; the first confirmed importation was at the end of May and first confirmed unlinked case was at the end of June.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Kalonji visited Katanga at the start of August 1960, shortly after its secession, where, on the 8 August, he declared that Kasai "must be divided at all costs".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "start of August" with a specific year (e.g., "start of August 2024") for clarity, especially when discussing past or future events, removing ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming "start of August" covers the entire first half of the month. It typically refers to the first few days, not an extended period.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "start of August" functions as a temporal marker, indicating a period at the beginning of the month of August. As Ludwig AI points out, it is generally considered grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Sport

20%

Business

13%

Less common in

Science

13%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "start of August" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the beginning of August. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use across various contexts. While it's generally understood, remember that it refers to the first few days, not the entire first half of the month. Consider using alternatives like "early August" or "beginning of August" for stylistic variation. Being mindful of such nuances ensures precise communication in writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

early august

Uses a simpler adjective to denote the same timeframe.

beginning of august

Replaces "start" with its direct synonym "beginning".

first week of august

Specifies a duration within the early part of the month.

in early august

Uses a prepositional phrase to indicate a general timeframe.

august first

Inverts the structure to emphasize the specific date.

the outset of august

Uses a more formal synonym for "start".

around august 1st

Indicates an approximate time near the first day of August.

as august commences

Employs a verb to describe the beginning of the month.

at the dawn of august

Employs metaphorical language for a more evocative description.

when august begins

Introduces a clause indicating the commencement of the month.

FAQs

How can I use "start of August" in a sentence?

You can use "start of August" to indicate a timeframe. For example, "The project is scheduled to launch at the "start of August"."

What phrases are similar to "start of August"?

Similar phrases include "early August", "beginning of August", or "first week of August".

Is it more formal to say "beginning of August" instead of "start of August"?

The phrases "start of August" and "beginning of August" are largely interchangeable and have similar levels of formality. The choice often depends on stylistic preference.

Which is more specific, "start of August" or "August 1st"?

"August 1st" is more specific as it refers to a particular day. "Start of August" generally refers to the first few days of the month, not necessarily a single day.