started to play

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "started to play" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the beginning of an action, specifically when someone begins to engage in playing a game, sport, or musical instrument. Example: "After a long day at work, she finally started to play the piano again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

McGary started to play more.

The New York Times - Sports

"I liked it and started to play".

The New York Times - Sports

Soon after, he started to play golf.

The New York Times - Sports

Garry started to play chess obsessively.

The New Yorker

"He started to play very aggressive.

The New York Times - Sports

Everybody got up and started to play".

The New York Times

He smiled widely, and started to play.

The New Yorker

So I started to play.

The New York Times

Now he started to play.

The New York Times - Magazine

"He started to play better.

The New York Times - Sports

So we just started to play around.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the commencement of an activity, ensure that the subject is clearly defined. For example, instead of saying "Started to play", specify who started to play, such as "The band started to play".

Common error

Avoid separating "started" and "to play" with unnecessary adverbs or phrases that disrupt the flow of the sentence. Instead of "He started quickly to play", use "He quickly started to play" or "He started to play quickly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "started to play" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of an action. Ludwig examples show its use in describing the initiation of playing a sport, a game, or a musical instrument. According to Ludwig, the phrase is perfectly usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "started to play" is a versatile and common expression used to indicate the beginning of an activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable in various contexts. Our analysis reveals that it frequently appears in News & Media, where it is used to describe the commencement of sports, games, or musical performances. While mainly neutral in register, it can adopt different tones based on the context. When seeking alternatives, consider "began playing" or "took up playing" to add variety to your writing. Remember to avoid separating "started" and "to play" with unnecessary adverbs to maintain clarity. Ludwig examples confirm the versatility and correctness of this simple yet effective phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

began playing

Uses a different verb ("began" instead of "started") to convey the same meaning of initiating an action.

commenced playing

Employs a more formal verb ("commenced") to indicate the beginning of playing.

initiated playing

Uses "initiated", suggesting a formal or deliberate start to playing.

took up playing

Indicates starting a new hobby or activity of playing.

launched into playing

Suggests an enthusiastic or sudden start to playing.

got into playing

Implies developing an interest in and starting to play something.

set about playing

Indicates a determined or purposeful start to playing.

turned to playing

Suggests starting to play as a new activity or hobby, often after a change of interests or priorities.

developed an interest in playing

Highlights the emergence of an interest that leads to starting to play.

embarked on playing

A more formal way of saying started playing, suggesting a significant undertaking.

FAQs

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

You can use "started to play" to describe the beginning of an activity, like in the sentence: "After the rain stopped, the children "started to play" in the puddles".

What are some alternatives to "started to play"?

Some alternatives include "began playing", "commenced playing", or "took up playing", depending on the context. For instance, "She "began playing" the piano after dinner".

Is it correct to say "started playing" instead of "started to play"?

Yes, "started playing" is also correct and often used interchangeably with "started to play". For example, both "He "started to play" guitar" and "He started playing guitar" are grammatically sound.

What's the difference between "started to play" and "continued to play"?

"Started to play" indicates the beginning of an activity, while "continued to play" implies that the activity was already in progress. For example, "He "started to play" the drums" means he began playing, whereas "He continued to play the drums" means he was already playing and kept going.