start of december

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "start of December" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the beginning days of the month of December. Example: "We are planning to launch the new product at the start of December."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"That was at the start of December and I have not heard anything since.

Independent

The departure of Monk at the start of December certainly didn't help matters.

The Guardian - Sport

At the start of December the Conservatives were still ahead, but just by one point.

The Guardian

The results should be available by the end of November or start of December.

The Guardian

Yet now, at the start of December, Tony Pulis has West Brom in ninth place.

The Guardian - Sport

At the start of December, Karim and other Muslims attended a hanukah service at the synagogue.

The Guardian

As recently as the start of December, the companies were worth £4.3bn and £1.9bn respectively.

The Guardian - Business

Since the start of December, municipal, foreign and long-term Treasury bond funds have lost value, on average.

The New York Times

All in all, at the start of December, ten first-team Arsenal players were unavailable for selection through injury.

Independent

All 35 patients who've used the service since the start of December were also given a full oral cancer screening.

The Guardian

Since the start of December, Hughes has batted 19 times for New South Wales, Australia and Middlesex.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "start of december" in formal writing, consider whether a more precise date or timeframe would be more appropriate. For example, specify "the first week of December" or "December 1st to December 7th" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions before "start of december". For example, do not say "in start of december"; instead, use "at the start of december" or "from the start of december".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "start of december" functions as a temporal marker, indicating a specific point in time, namely the beginning of the month. As Ludwig confirms, it is a grammatically correct phrase. The examples show its role in setting deadlines, planning events, or describing periods.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

1%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "start of december" is a grammatically sound and exceptionally common temporal phrase used to denote the beginning of the month. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media, it serves to provide temporal context in various scenarios, from setting project deadlines to describing past events. While alternatives such as "early december" or "beginning of december" exist, the core meaning remains consistent. A key writing tip is to ensure accurate preposition usage, favoring "at the start of december". Its prevalence across authoritative sources underscores its reliability and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beginning of december

Uses "beginning of" instead of "start of", which is a direct synonym.

early december

Replaces "start of" with "early", maintaining the same meaning with a slightly more concise expression.

in early december

Similar to "early december", offers a succinct way to refer to the same time period.

first days of december

Specifies "first days" to emphasize the initial part of the month.

around december first

Focuses on the specific date of December 1st as the approximate starting point.

initial part of december

More descriptive, specifying the "initial part" of the month rather than just the start.

as december begins

Changes the structure to a clause, indicating the beginning of December as an event.

the outset of december

Employs "outset" as a synonym for "start", lending a slightly more literary tone.

december's commencement

Replaces "start of december" with a more formal and less common phrasing.

at the dawning of december

Uses a more poetic and evocative expression for the beginning of the month.

FAQs

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

You can use "start of december" to indicate the beginning of the month in various contexts. For instance, "The project will commence at the "start of december"" or "We are planning a holiday party for the "start of december"".

What are some alternatives to "start of december"?

Alternatives include "early december", "beginning of december", or "first days of december". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "at the start of december" or "in the start of december"?

"At the start of december" is the correct and more common phrasing. "In the start of december" is grammatically incorrect.

What is the difference between "start of december" and "end of november"?

"Start of december" refers to the initial days of December, while "end of november" refers to the final days of November. They denote different, though consecutive, time periods.