started to believe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "started to believe" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the process of beginning to accept something as true or real. Example: "After hearing the evidence presented, she started to believe that the theory might actually be valid."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

I started to believe people.

Princeton University

I started to believe again.

The Guardian

"I've really started to believe in opera.

The Guardian

"That's when we started to believe".

The New York Times - Sports

Then I started to believe her.

The Guardian - Opinion

I've started to believe it myself.

The Guardian

"We've started to believe our own lies," he said.

The New York Times

Then I started to believe it could be a reality".

The Guardian - Film

Stevie had started to believe, we all had.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Now, teachers started to believe in Maggie.

The Guardian

And I started to believe it.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "started to believe" to describe a gradual shift in opinion or acceptance of an idea, especially when emphasizing the process of forming a belief rather than the belief itself. For example: "After seeing the data, they started to believe the project could succeed."

Common error

Avoid using "started to believe" when describing a sudden or immediate acceptance of something. Instead, use stronger phrases like "immediately believed" or "was instantly convinced" to accurately reflect the suddenness of the conviction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "started to believe" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the commencement of a mental process. Ludwig examples show it's used to describe a gradual shift in conviction or acceptance. This contrasts with simply "believing", which implies a state of already holding a belief.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

6%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "started to believe" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that describes the gradual development of a belief or conviction. Ludwig AI analysis, along with the numerous examples, confirms its acceptability across various contexts, primarily in News & Media. When using this phrase, it's important to convey the sense of a gradual shift in opinion and avoid using it when describing a sudden acceptance of something. Alternatives such as "began to think", "came to accept", and "grew to believe" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grew to believe

Emphasizes a slower, more gradual development of belief over time.

became convinced

Indicates a stronger level of certainty and persuasion.

developed a conviction

Indicates the formation of a strong, unwavering belief.

came to accept

Suggests a gradual acceptance, often of something previously doubted or resisted.

began to realize

Focuses on understanding or becoming aware of something, leading to a belief.

started to understand

Similar to realizing, but can indicate a deeper level of cognitive processing.

began to think

Implies an initial stage of considering something, less definitive than believing.

embraced the idea

Suggests a more enthusiastic and willing acceptance of a belief or concept.

started to suspect

Implies a negative or cautious beginning of belief, often based on incomplete evidence.

turned to faith

Specifically refers to the adoption of religious or spiritual belief.

FAQs

How can I use "started to believe" in a sentence?

The phrase "started to believe" describes the process of gradually accepting something as true. For example, "After reviewing the evidence, the jury "started to believe" the defendant's alibi".

What are some alternatives to "started to believe"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "began to think", "came to accept", or "grew to believe" as alternatives to "started to believe".

Is it grammatically correct to say "started to believe"?

Yes, "started to believe" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to describe the gradual formation of a belief.

What's the difference between "started to believe" and "believed"?

"Started to believe" implies a process of gradually forming a belief, whereas "believed" suggests a state of already holding that belief. For example, "He "started to believe" in climate change after reading several scientific reports," versus "He believed in climate change."