start to regret

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "start to regret" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something has caused you to begin feeling regret or remorse. For example: "After I quit my job, I started to regret my decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The question is, when does the balance tip, when do enough voters start to regret what they are losing.

The Guardian - Opinion

If he does, he may just start to regret consigning this powerful novel with its depiction of injustice to the back shelves in schools.

The Guardian

And, appealing though this may seem initially, with too much time on their hands many retirees soon get bored and start to regret that they hadn't thought the whole process through.

The Guardian - Money

"As I've said, often these girls start to regret abortion, and if this comes up, we need to connect her with resources for psychological and/or religious counseling," Lloyd wrote in an email included in the filings by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The Washington Post

At around age 60, after their own parents are gone, people start to regret that they never asked how Mom and Dad met or what Dad did in the war or what exactly was the scandal involving Uncle Ned furthermore they realize that their own kids are not asking such questions.

Forbes

At around age 60, after their own parents are gone, people start to regret that they never asked how Mom and Dad met or what Dad did in the war or what exactly was the scandal involving Uncle Ned--furthermore they realize that their own kids are not asking such questions.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

JOHN MAJOR must be starting to regret pushing through the introduction of his nursery-voucher scheme.

The Economist

It was probably about 20 feet outside the wire that I started to regret the decision to join the patrol.

The Guardian

It was only after she'd been captured, she said, when "the days just began adding up," that she started to regret her political bid.

The New Yorker

Three months ago, Weise wrote online about suicide: "I'm starting to regret sticking around, I should've taken the razor blade express last time around...

The Washington Post

She was already starting to regret having talked about some of her other struggles while making the record, including open discussion of the insomnia that plagued her.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "start to regret" when you want to emphasize the initial phase of feeling regret, implying that the feeling may intensify over time.

Common error

Ensure that the tense of "start" aligns with the context of the sentence. Avoid mixing past and present tenses inappropriately (e.g., "I have started to regretted" is incorrect; use "I started to regret" or "I have started to regret").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "start to regret" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of a feeling of remorse or disappointment. It highlights the initial stage of experiencing regret, as seen in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "start to regret" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to denote the initial phase of feeling remorse or disappointment. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and functions as a verb phrase. While the usage isn't extremely common, it appears across diverse sources, with News & Media being the most prominent. When using "start to regret", it's important to consider the context and align the tense correctly, as inconsistent tense usage is a common error. Consider alternatives such as "begin to lament" or "develop misgivings" to add variation to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come to regret

Indicates a later realization of regret, possibly after a period of time.

experience regret

Directly states feeling the emotion, without necessarily focusing on the beginning of it.

start having second thoughts

Focuses on the emergence of new considerations that cause one to reconsider a decision.

start second-guessing

Focuses on questioning the wisdom of a previous action.

begin to doubt

Highlights the beginning of uncertainty of an event or decision

develop misgivings

Highlights the gradual onset of doubt or apprehension about a choice.

begin to feel sorry

Suggests a sense of pity or sadness about a situation or decision.

begin to lament

Focuses more on expressing sorrow or grief about something.

feel remorseful

This phrase describes the emotion felt, which can be the result of an action or inaction.

commence to rue

Emphasizes a feeling of bitterness or sorrow over something that happened.

FAQs

How can I use "start to regret" in a sentence?

You can use "start to regret" to indicate the beginning of feeling remorse or disappointment about something. For example, "After making that decision, I "started to regret" it immediately".

What's a more formal alternative to "start to regret"?

In a more formal setting, consider using phrases like "begin to feel remorseful" or "commence to rue". These alternatives offer a more sophisticated tone while conveying a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "start to regret" and "come to regret"?

"Start to regret" suggests the initial onset of regret, while "come to regret" implies a gradual realization of regret over time. The phrase "come to regret" suggests a progression.

What's the difference between "start to regret" and "second-guessing"?

"Start to regret" indicates a feeling of remorse or disappointment, while "second-guessing" focuses more on questioning the wisdom of a previous action. Although related, they emphasize different aspects of the experience.