starting month

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "starting month" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the first month in a sequence or timeframe, such as in a project timeline or financial reporting. Example: "The project will commence in the starting month of January, allowing us to plan accordingly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Correction: July 3 , 2002 Wednesday The Residential Real Estate column on June 14 about the downtown rental market after Sept. 11 misstated the starting month for a comparison of how the market had strengthened.

The New York Times

As Andrew Dessler, a scientist at Texas A & M, put it, "You can, if you want, very carefully select the end points of your time series, the starting month and the ending month, and then maybe you come up with something that shows no warming".

The New York Times

Drought initiation time (DIT): the starting month of the rainfall shortage period, which indicates the beginning of a drought.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

The ANMU and CESM sites coincide with the peak rainfall intensity in starting month (January April) of the year 2009 but other months have different pattern.

The Journal of Global Positioning Systems

It was found that a better comparison can be established if the taxa are separated within each group according to the starting month of their pollen season.

Botanical Studies

Once all the drought events have been identified from the monthly Pa series of each grid, a meteorological drought event can be characterized with the following indicators: (1) Drought initiation time (DIT): the starting month of the rainfall shortage period, which indicates the beginning of a drought.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Starting Jul.

The New Yorker

At the Met, starting January….

The New Yorker

HBO, starting Oct. 15.

The New York Times - Arts

NPR, starting Nov. 13.

The New York Times - Arts

Open daily for dinner, starting Aug. 24.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "starting month" to clearly define the beginning of a specific period, especially in project timelines or financial reports.

Common error

Avoid using "starting month" when you actually mean the duration of an activity. "Starting month" refers to the initial month, not how long something lasts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "starting month" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as a subject complement or an object in a sentence. It identifies the initial month of a process, project, or period, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "starting month" is a grammatically sound and usable term that indicates the initial month of a specified period or activity. As Ludwig highlights, its usage spans across scientific and news contexts. While "starting month" is an acceptable and relatively common phrase, considering alternatives like "initial month" or "beginning month" can sometimes provide a more concise or stylistically appropriate option. When using "starting month", ensure the context clarifies the event that is beginning to avoid ambiguity. Overall, "starting month" is a clear and functional phrase suitable for various professional and academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial month

Replaces "starting" with "initial", emphasizing the beginning nature of the month.

beginning month

Substitutes "starting" with "beginning", a direct synonym indicating the commencement of a period.

first month

Directly indicates the first month in a sequence, replacing "starting" with "first".

commencement month

Uses "commencement" to replace "starting", offering a more formal tone for the beginning of a period.

launch month

Employs "launch" to signify the start, particularly suited for projects or initiatives.

opening month

Uses "opening" to denote the beginning, suitable for events or periods with a defined start.

kick-off month

Replaces "starting" with the idiom "kick-off", indicating the initiation of an activity or period.

inaugural month

Substitutes "starting" with "inaugural", emphasizing the start of something new or formal.

point of origin

Employs 'point of origin' to indicate the very beginning of an event.

month of inception

A more formal way to say the month something begins.

FAQs

How do I use "starting month" in a sentence?

Use "starting month" to specify the first month of a particular period or activity. For example, "The project's "starting month" is January, with completion expected in June."

What's an alternative to saying "starting month"?

You can use alternatives such as "initial month" or "beginning month" for similar meaning. The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the starting month of the year"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. However, it might be more concise to say "the first month of the year" unless you need to emphasize the commencement of something specific in that month.

How does "starting month" differ from "start date"?

"Starting month" refers to the month in which something begins, whereas "start date" specifies the exact day, month, and year. The former is less precise than the latter.