started to speak

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "started to speak" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the beginning of someone’s act of speaking or initiating a conversation. Example: "As the meeting began, she started to speak about the new project updates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He started to speak.

The New York Times

But some have started to speak out.

The Guardian

At one point, I started to speak, but Biden interrupted.

The New Yorker

Jones approached his partner between overs and started to speak.

Independent

PF: It feels like people have started to speak out.

The Guardian - Music

"It rained when he started to speak," she added, laughing.

The New York Times

When Mr. Perkins started to speak, they interrupted him.

The New Yorker

I started to speak, and Lloyd answered the question.

The New Yorker

At Channel 9, the young meteorologists started to speak in dialogue out of disaster movies.

The New York Times - Magazine

Just as he started to speak, his face flashed across the screen.

The New York Times - Sports

He has started to speak in moral terms, and that always makes scientists uncomfortable".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To signal a change from silence or inaction to active communication use "started to speak".

Common error

In highly formal or academic writing, overuse of "started to speak" can sound repetitive. Replace it with more sophisticated alternatives like "commenced speaking" or "initiated dialogue" to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "started to speak" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of the act of speaking. It signals the beginning of verbal communication, transitioning from silence to active expression. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is commonly used and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "started to speak" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase indicating the beginning of someone's act of speaking. Ludwig AI confirms its general acceptability. While it is versatile and appears across various contexts, from news reports to personal narratives, it is best suited for neutral registers. For more formal writing, consider alternatives such as "commenced speaking" or "initiated dialogue". Keep in mind that overusing it can make the text sound repetitive, particularly in formal contexts. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media sources, and to a lesser extent in Formal & Business and Science contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

began to talk

Replaces "speak" with the more general term "talk".

commenced speaking

Uses a more formal verb, "commenced", instead of "started".

initiated speech

Employs a formal noun, "speech", and the verb "initiated".

started voicing

Replaces speak with voicing, implying expression of opinion.

opened their mouth to speak

Adds a descriptive element about the action of speaking.

initiated conversation

Focuses on starting a conversation.

broke the silence

Implies that someone started talking after a period of quiet.

began to utter

Uses the word "utter", implying that they spoke with effort.

found their voice

Suggests that the speaker had difficulty speaking before.

started verbalizing

Uses the more technical word "verbalizing".

FAQs

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

You can use "started to speak" to indicate the beginning of someone's act of speaking. For instance: "As the meeting began, she "started to speak" about the new project updates."

What are some alternatives to "started to speak"?

Alternatives include "began to talk", "commenced speaking", or "initiated speech". The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "began to speak" or "started to speak"?

Both "started to speak" and "began to speak" are grammatically correct and generally interchangeable. "Started" is slightly more informal, while "began" might be perceived as slightly more formal.

When should I avoid using "started to speak"?

In contexts where a more sophisticated or technical term is preferred, consider using alternatives like "commenced speaking" or "initiated dialogue". Avoid overuse in a single text to prevent repetition.