started building

USAGE SUMMARY

"started building" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the beginning of a process or activity. For example: "The construction crew started building the new bridge on Monday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The LeFraks started building there in 1986.

The New York Times

"That started building the confidence," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

… We started building our wall.

The Washington Post

The evidence started building up.

The Guardian

We started building a bond".

The New York Times - Sports

His team started building momentum again.

Harvard Business Review

"I started building model planes," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

(BELOW) -- I started building furniture in 1959.

The New York Times

So Arthur Gebbia, 79, started building scooters.

The New York Times

We started building houses, one by one.

The New York Times

Residents have started building second storeys to expand upwards.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "started building", ensure it aligns with the tense of the surrounding sentences. For ongoing actions, consider using "started building" in the past continuous tense (e.g. "was starting to build").

Common error

Avoid using "started building" when the context requires a different tense to accurately reflect the timeline. For instance, don't say "They started building yesterday, and they will finish it tomorrow" if you mean they began the entire process before yesterday.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "started building" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the commencement of a construction or development process. It is used to describe the action of beginning to create or assemble something, whether physical structures or abstract systems, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "started building" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to denote the beginning of a construction or development activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and versatile, appearing in diverse contexts ranging from news reports and business communications to scientific articles. While alternatives like "began constructing" or "initiated construction" may offer a slightly different tone, "started building" remains a straightforward and widely understood way to express the commencement of a building or developmental endeavor. When using this phrase, ensure that tense usage accurately reflects the timeline of events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

began constructing

Replaces "started" with "began" and "building" with "constructing", implying a formal tone.

initiated construction

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

commenced building

Employs "commenced", a more formal synonym for "started", retaining "building".

began to erect

Replaces "building" with "erect", suggesting a specific type of construction, often vertical.

laid the foundation for

Implies the initial stage of building, focusing on the foundational aspect.

embarked on construction

Uses "embarked on" to emphasize the beginning of a significant building project.

pioneered the building of

Highlights an innovative or first-time approach to building something.

set about constructing

Suggests a deliberate and planned start to the building process.

got underway with building

Informal phrasing that means the same as started building. "Got underway" can apply to processes other than physical construction.

established the groundwork

Focuses on the preparatory steps before actual building begins, indicating initial planning and preparation.

FAQs

How can I use "started building" in a sentence?

You can use "started building" to indicate the commencement of a construction or development activity. For example, "The company "started building" its new headquarters last year".

What are some alternatives to "started building"?

Some alternatives include "began constructing", "initiated construction", or "commenced building", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is there a difference between "started building" and "began building"?

The phrases "started building" and "began building" are largely interchangeable. "Began" might sound slightly more formal than "started", but they convey the same meaning.

Can "started building" refer to abstract concepts, or is it limited to physical construction?

"Started building" can apply to both physical construction and abstract concepts. You might say, "They "started building" a strong relationship" or "The team "started building" a new software platform".