starting to arrive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "starting to arrive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something or someone is beginning to reach a destination or become present. Example: "The guests are starting to arrive for the party, and the atmosphere is becoming more lively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Property articles in the Telegraph – among other media outlets – have hailed "one corner of the West Country where you can do world-class waterfront on a budget"; and in the city's more upscale corners, there is a sense of money starting to arrive, and new business arrivals catering to elevated lifestyles.

The Guardian

Crowd starting to arrive.

The Guardian

All are now starting to arrive for the breeding season.

Independent

But the delivery trucks are starting to arrive all over again, idling on Crosby.

The New York Times - Magazine

a57335f5-dca5-441f-869a-f4d08aa92868 Election leaflets are starting to arrive through letterboxes across Britain.

The Guardian

Audience members were starting to arrive, among them Linda Baylis Mallia.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Bad days started to arrive.

University of California, Berkeley

Soon after, the books started to arrive.

The New Yorker

Then the bills started to arrive.

The New York Times

Soon, reporters started to arrive.

The New York Times - Tech

Apple store staff started to arrive.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "starting to arrive" to clearly indicate the beginning phase of people or items reaching a destination. This avoids ambiguity and sets the expectation for more to come. For example, "The first guests are starting to arrive, so let's prepare the appetizers."

Common error

Avoid using "starting to arrive" repeatedly within a short passage. Vary your language to prevent redundancy. For example, instead of saying "The packages are starting to arrive. More packages are starting to arrive every hour", try "The packages are starting to arrive; additional shipments are expected hourly."

Linguistic Context

"Starting to arrive" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as part of a verb phrase to indicate the commencement of an action. It describes the initial stage of reaching a destination or becoming present. Ludwig AI shows many examples of its use in describing the onset of arrivals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Social Media

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "starting to arrive" is a grammatically sound and very common gerund phrase used to indicate the beginning of something or someone reaching a destination. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media. While suitable for both formal and informal communication, it's essential to avoid overuse and consider alternatives like "beginning to show up" or "beginning to come in" for variety. The phrase is generally neutral in register, and its purpose is to signal the commencement of an event or process.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beginning to show up

Emphasizes the initial appearance or presence.

beginning to come in

Indicates the start of things or people entering a place.

commencing to reach

Highlights the commencement of the reaching process.

getting close to arriving

Suggests proximity to the point of arrival.

preparing to reach

Highlights the preparation stage before reaching the destination.

initiating arrival

Focuses on the act of starting the arrival process.

approaching the destination

Emphasizes the act of getting closer to a specific destination.

on the verge of arrival

Indicates being very near the point of arrival.

in the process of getting here

Describes the ongoing action of coming to a specific location.

due to reach

Suggests the expected time of arrival.

FAQs

What does "starting to arrive" mean?

The phrase "starting to arrive" means that something or someone is in the process of reaching a destination or becoming present. It indicates the initial phase of arrival.

What can I say instead of "starting to arrive"?

You can use alternatives like "beginning to show up", "beginning to come in", or "getting close to arriving" depending on the context.

Is "starting to arrive" grammatically correct?

Yes, "starting to arrive" is grammatically correct and commonly used in both written and spoken English.

How do I use "starting to arrive" in a sentence?

You can use "starting to arrive" to describe people, objects, or even abstract concepts that are beginning to reach a particular place or state. For example: "The attendees are starting to arrive for the conference."