started dating

USAGE SUMMARY

"started dating" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe the beginning of a romantic relationship between two people. Example: Sarah and Mike started dating after meeting at a friend's party. They have been together for over a year now.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They started dating.

The New Yorker

They soon started dating.

The New York Times

Eventually we started dating.

The New Yorker

I started dating someone else.

The New Yorker

"Then we started dating.

The New York Times - Magazine

I recently started dating this guy.

The New York Times

Slowly, after many walks, they started dating.

The New York Times

I also started dating a terrific guy.

The New York Times

They started dating in November.

The New York Times - Magazine

They started dating at university.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, David and I started dating.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "started dating" to clearly and concisely indicate the beginning of a romantic relationship. Be mindful of the context; it is generally suitable for both formal and informal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "start dating" (present tense) when referring to a past event. Instead, use "started dating" (past tense) to accurately convey that the relationship began in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "started dating" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of a romantic relationship. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it is used to describe when two people began going out together.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "started dating" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the beginning of a romantic relationship. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's versatile and suitable for various contexts, predominantly appearing in News & Media. While alternatives like "began a relationship" or "became romantically involved" exist, "started dating" remains a straightforward and widely understood expression. When using it, ensure you're using the correct tense (past tense) and be mindful of the specific nuance you want to convey, as there are many ways to describe the beginning of a relationship.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

began a relationship

Focuses on the commencement of a relationship, broader than just dating.

became romantically involved

Emphasizes the romantic aspect of the relationship's beginning.

got together romantically

A more informal way of saying they began dating.

entered into a courtship

Implies a more formal or traditional approach to the beginning of a relationship.

struck up a romance

Highlights the romantic and often spontaneous nature of the relationship's start.

developed a romantic interest in each other

Focuses on the mutual development of feelings before dating.

initiated a romantic liaison

More formal and emphasizes the intimacy of the relationship.

connected on a deeper level

Suggests an emotional or intellectual connection that led to dating.

commenced a romantic entanglement

Suggests a complex or involved romantic beginning.

embarked on a romantic journey

Implies a longer-term commitment or a more profound relationship.

FAQs

How to use "started dating" in a sentence?

"Started dating" is used to indicate the beginning of a romantic relationship. For example, "They "started dating" after meeting at a conference".

What can I say instead of "started dating"?

You can use alternatives like "began a relationship", "became romantically involved", or "got together romantically" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "began dating" instead of "started dating"?

Yes, "began dating" is a perfectly acceptable and grammatically correct alternative to "started dating". Both phrases have essentially the same meaning.

What's the difference between "dating" and "started dating"?

"Dating" refers to the act of going on dates or being in a relationship, while ""started dating"" specifically refers to the point in time when the relationship began. One describes the state, the other the action of starting.