started to speculate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "started to speculate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the beginning of a process of forming theories or conjectures about something without firm evidence. Example: "After hearing the rumors, the team started to speculate about the reasons for the sudden changes in management."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

And it was only around the turn of the millennium that developers started to speculate on factories (the more unscrupulous ones earned the description "raiders").

The Guardian - Arts

Watching the Haiti response unfold from afar, Budhathoki had an idea: "I started to speculate – what happens if there is an earthquake in Nepal?

The Guardian

Immediately, Goldberg started to speculate about the potential implications of a Tate win, aware that it would scramble the established storyline.

The New Yorker

The man has nothing else to do. 5) Democrats are getting so bored that they've started to speculate about whether Joe Biden will run in 2016.

The New York Times

And I started to speculate as to whether this work, painted only a few years before the artist's death, held new depths of meaning for those ever more conscious of mortality.

The Guardian - Arts

The twitterati started to speculate why Cable was so absent from the press work and defence of the document, as unimpressively, and without precedent the man once regarded as "the most popular man in politics" has been turned into a laughing stock by students and academics alike.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Actors in the system typically start to speculate.

Harvard Business Review

Nancy starts to speculate aloud about how the balloons came to be there and what they might mean.

The New York Times - Books

You start to speculate about the next technology, associate negative things with the existing technology, and hope that the next one will only bring solutions.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Or worse, having met your future mother-in-law, what if you start to speculate about making a handbrake turn on the highway of true romance?

The Guardian

"The problem with doing something like this is you give the bottom line number without all the details, and people start to speculate," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "started to speculate" when you want to indicate the initial phase of forming opinions or theories without concrete evidence. It is suitable for describing the onset of conjecture in various contexts, from personal reflections to market analysis.

Common error

While versatile, avoid relying too heavily on "started to speculate" in strictly formal writing, such as academic papers or legal documents. Opt for stronger verbs like 'hypothesized', 'posited', or 'concluded' to convey greater authority and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "started to speculate" functions as a verb phrase indicating the initiation of a mental process. It describes the act of forming conjectures or theories about something, typically without sufficient evidence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely applicable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "started to speculate" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the beginning of conjecture or theory formation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's widely applicable across various contexts, with a neutral tone suitable for most writing. While "started to speculate" is common, consider stronger, more precise verbs in formal writing to enhance authority. Remember to vary your language and use synonyms like "began to theorize" or "started guessing" to add depth to your writing. Use "started to speculate" to describe how an action of conjecturing began.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

began to conjecture

Uses a more formal synonym for 'speculate'.

commenced speculating

Uses a more formal and less common verb.

began to theorize

Suggests a more structured or academic form of speculation.

started to hypothesize

Implies a more scientific or investigatory approach.

started guessing

Implies a less informed or more random form of speculation.

began to surmise

Suggests forming an opinion without complete evidence.

began to ponder

Implies deep and prolonged thought or consideration.

started to imagine

Focuses more on the creative or imaginative aspect.

started to consider

Suggests a more deliberate and thoughtful evaluation.

started wondering

Implies a more casual or inquisitive form of speculation.

FAQs

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

You can use "started to speculate" to describe the beginning of forming opinions or theories without solid proof. For example, "After the announcement, analysts "started to speculate" about the company's future strategies".

What are some alternatives to "started to speculate"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "began to theorize", "started guessing", or "began to hypothesize" as alternatives to "started to speculate".

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

Both "began to speculate" and "started to speculate" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "Began to speculate" might sound slightly more formal, while "started to speculate" is more common in everyday language.

What's the nuance between "started to speculate" and "began to wonder"?

"Started to speculate" suggests forming potential explanations or predictions, while "began to wonder" implies a more casual, inquisitive thought process. For example, "The public "started to speculate" about the cause of the blackout", versus "I "began to wonder" if I had left the stove on".