start practising

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "start practising" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when encouraging someone to begin the process of practicing a skill or activity. Example: "If you want to improve your guitar skills, you should start practising every day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

They can then start practising.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

So world leaders should start practising now.

The Economist

Start practising your loose-change aim now!

The Guardian - Travel

So you may as well start practising now.

The Guardian - Tech

We've got to start practising what we preach.

The Guardian

Possibly time to start practising those Oscar speeches.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

SB: Yeah we've not started practising yet.

The Guardian - Music

North American and Canadian vanguards have already started practising it.

The Guardian - Opinion

When I started practising again, things didn't feel quite right on my right side.

Independent

At the age of 12, Antti started practising as a jockey in reindeer racing.

The Guardian - Arts

The model and actress Daisy Lowe started practising transcendental meditation earlier this year.

The Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When encouraging someone to improve a skill, follow "start practising" with a specific timeframe or method to make the advice more actionable. For example: "Start practising scales for 30 minutes each day".

Common error

Avoid using "start practising" without clearly defining what needs to be practised. Without a specific focus, the phrase can sound vague and unhelpful. Be sure to clarify the skill or activity. Instead of saying "You need to start practising", specify "You need to start practising your presentation skills."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "start practising" functions as a verb phrase used to initiate an action. As Ludwig AI states, it is grammatically correct. It typically encourages someone to begin the process of honing a particular skill or activity. Examples show its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

24%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Opinion

7%

Lifestyle

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "start practising" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to encourage the initiation of skill development through dedicated practice. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English. The usage is prevalent in neutral contexts, such as news media, but also appears in scientific and general interest articles. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "begin practicing" or "commence practising". Be mindful to clarify exactly what needs to be practised for the most effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

begin practicing

This alternative uses "begin" instead of "start", which is a more formal synonym.

commence practicing

This alternative employs "commence", which is a more formal and less common synonym for "start".

initiate practice

This alternative uses "initiate" to emphasize the beginning of the practice process.

get down to practicing

This alternative adds a sense of determination and focus to the act of starting practice.

take up practice

This alternative suggests beginning a regular habit of practicing.

embark on practice

This alternative presents practice as a journey or undertaking.

devote time to practice

This alternative highlights the allocation of time for practice.

set about practicing

This alternative implies a deliberate and planned approach to starting practice.

make a start on practice

This alternative conveys the idea of initiating practice, often with the implication of continued effort.

turn to practice

This alternative suggests beginning practice as a response to a need or situation.

FAQs

How can I use "start practising" in a sentence?

You can use "start practising" to encourage someone to begin working on a skill. For instance, "If you want to improve your tennis game, you should "start practising" your serve".

What are some alternatives to "start practising"?

You can use alternatives like "begin practicing", "commence practicing", or "initiate practice" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "start practising" or "begin to practice"?

"Start practising" and "begin to practice" are both grammatically correct, but ""start practising"" is generally more concise and commonly used in everyday language. "Begin to practice" can sound slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "start practising" and "keep practising"?

"Start practising" implies beginning the process of improving a skill, while "keep practising" suggests continuing the practice to maintain or further develop that skill.