started a bid

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "started a bid" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to auctions, proposals, or competitive offers where someone initiates a bidding process. Example: "After careful consideration, the company started a bid for the new project, hoping to secure the contract."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Now, though, a group of Inland Empire officials, headed by an Ontario city councilman, Alan Wapner, and a team of consultants and lawyers, have started a bid to take the airport back.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Netflix has started a bidding war for new content.

The Guardian

ELON MUSK, the chief executive of Tesla Motors, has started a bidding war among four states in America's south-west for the future home of a "gigafactory".

The Economist

The government started a bidding process six months ago that attracted interest from Royal Bank of Scotland, a consortium including Goldman Sachs, and other potential buyers.

The Guardian - Business

"If Pepsi hadn't started a bidding war, Coke wouldn't be doing this now," said Emanuel Goldman, an analyst with ING Barings.

The New York Times

On Monday, Hewlett-Packard, the world's largest technology company, started a bidding war against its rival Dell for the rights to 3Par, an 11-year-old storage company based in Fremont, Calif.

The New York Times - Tech

Then Barclays and the Royal Bank of Scotland started a bidding war that ended with a price more than double what it was when Tweedy started buying.

Forbes

Twitter recently told developers straight out to stop building clients and focus on verticals, and then reportedly started a bidding war with Bill Gross' Ubermedia for client Tweetdeck.

TechCrunch

Orly Shani's colorblocked jersey sheath dress started a bidding war between Macy's and Saks, driving the order price up to an impressive $120,000 from Saks.

Huffington Post

Their second attempt started a bidding war, someone bought the bag for an astounding $168, sparking the idea for what's now Vitality Air.

Vice

Treasury prices rose as the discovery of ricin in the Senate kick-started a bid for government debt.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the initiation of a bidding process, consider using "launched a bid" or "initiated a bid" for a more formal and impactful tone.

Common error

Avoid phrasing like "a bid was started" as it obscures the actor and weakens the sentence. Instead, use the active voice: "the company started a bid".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "started a bid" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the commencement of a competitive offer or proposal. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically sound and functions to show the beginning of an action.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "started a bid" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the beginning of a bidding process. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, though its frequency is rare. While acceptable in most contexts, more formal alternatives like "launched a bid" or "initiated a bid" might be preferred in professional settings. When using this phrase, ensure active voice and consider the specific nuance you wish to convey, whether it's the commencement of the process or the act of presenting the bid itself. The phrase is primarily found in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

launched a bid

Replaces "started" with "launched", emphasizing a formal commencement or introduction of the bid.

initiated a bid

Uses "initiated" instead of "started", suggesting a more formal or official beginning.

commenced a bid

Employs "commenced" for "started", indicating a formal and deliberate start to the bidding process.

began a bid

Substitutes "started" with "began", providing a simple and direct synonym.

put forward a bid

Changes the structure to emphasize the presentation of the bid rather than its initiation.

submitted a bid

Focuses on the act of formally presenting the bid for consideration.

made a bid

Simplifies the phrase to highlight the action of bidding itself.

presented a bid

Similar to "put forward a bid", emphasizing the formal presentation.

undertook a bid

Implies the initiation of a more complex or involved bidding process.

advanced a bid

Suggests moving a bid forward, rather than simply starting it.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "started a bid" for variety?

Alternatives include "launched a bid", "initiated a bid", or "submitted a bid", each adding a slightly different nuance to the action.

Is "started a bid" too informal for business writing?

While grammatically correct, "started a bid" may sound less formal. Consider "commenced a bid" or "initiated a bid" for a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "started a bid" and "made a bid"?

"Started a bid" emphasizes the beginning of the bidding process, while "made a bid" simply highlights the act of placing a bid, regardless of when it was initiated.

When should I use "put forward a bid" instead of "started a bid"?

Use "put forward a bid" when you want to emphasize the presentation or proposal aspect of the bid, rather than just its commencement.