start of the month

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "start of the month" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the beginning days of a month, often in contexts related to scheduling, planning, or financial matters. Example: "We will review the budget at the start of the month to ensure everything is on track."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The yield is up from 1.97 percent at the start of the month and 1.75 percent on Oct. 1.

The New York Times

One phone call, and within days I had my very own Medicare card, ready for Sept. 1, the start of the month of my 65th birthday.

The New York Times

Wal-Mart said sales were slow at the start of the month and warned they would remain sluggish throughout the February to April quarter.

BBC

Magoffin, who left Worcestershire in 2008, joined Sussex at the start of the month and will remain at Hove until June.

BBC

The August Bank Holiday used to take place at the start of the month, and it still does in Scotland (1 August this year).

Independent

The White Tigers were relegated at the start of the month, having almost been expelled from the Football Conference in October before Masters and Philip Perryman took over.

BBC

That was Jurgen Klopp at the start of the month.

Independent

At the start of the month, I weighed 168.8 pounds.

The New York Times - Food

Around 60cm of fresh snow arrived at the start of the month.

Independent

At the start of the month, those analysts were looking for earnings to rise 2.8 percent.

The New York Times

Mr. Romney has surged to 42 percent, from 30 percent at the start of the month.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "start of the month" when referring to events or deadlines that occur in the first few days of a month. This provides a clear timeframe for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "start of the month" if you need to specify an exact date. For example, instead of saying "The meeting is at the start of the month", specify "The meeting is on July 3rd" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "start of the month" functions as a temporal marker, indicating a period at the beginning of a calendar month. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "start of the month" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the initial days of a calendar month. Ludwig confirms its usability across a range of contexts, primarily in news and media. While versatile, it's important to consider precision; if an exact date is needed, specifying the date is more effective. Alternatives such as ""beginning of the month"" offer similar meaning. When writing, avoid vagueness by clarifying if the "start of the month" refers to a specific timeframe.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beginning of the month

Replaces "start" with "beginning", maintaining the same meaning.

early part of the month

Emphasizes the initial period of the month.

first week of the month

Specifies the timeframe to the first seven days.

opening days of the month

Uses more descriptive language for the initial days.

at the month's commencement

Replaces "start" with the more formal "commencement".

as the month begins

Shifts the focus to the action of the month starting.

the month's initial phase

Highlights the initial stage of the month.

inaugural phase of the month

A more formal way to describe the beginning.

at the dawning of the month

Uses metaphorical language to indicate the start.

in the month's infancy

Uses metaphorical language to indicate the beginning stages of the month.

FAQs

How can I use "start of the month" in a sentence?

You can use "start of the month" to refer to the initial days of a month, often in the context of deadlines, events, or financial matters. For example, "We will review the budget at the "beginning of the month" to ensure everything is on track."

What can I say instead of "start of the month"?

You can use alternatives like ""beginning of the month"", "early part of the month", or "first week of the month" depending on the context.

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

"At the start of the month" is the correct and idiomatic phrasing. "In the start of the month" is not standard English.

Which is more precise, "start of the month" or "first few days of the month"?

"First few days of the month" is more precise as it explicitly indicates a range of days. "Start of the month" is more general and can imply the first week or so, but its meaning can vary depending on context.