supposed to be started

USAGE SUMMARY

"supposed to be started" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to indicate something that is intended to be done, or something that should have already been done. For example, "The renovations to the house were supposed to be started last week, but they have yet to begin."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"So many things are supposed to be started, but it's not reaching people yet," she said.

The New York Times

Hopefully it's not some huge project that was supposed to be started two weeks before that involved photographing clouds over a two-week period, and now we have six hours to do it.

The New York Times

And results might not come for a day or more, making the tests of little use in deciding whether to prescribe drugs like Tamiflu, which are supposed to be started within 48 hours of the appearance of symptoms.

The New York Times

According to the original implementation plan, the three AOTs were supposed to be started in January 2008 to August 2008, but the last AOT was not implemented until August 2009, which ended up being a 12 month-delay.

BMC Psychiatry

Due to the infrastructure it was not possible to prevent multiple entries from the same individual by checking the IP address or using cookies, as the online survey was supposed to be started within the same network or on the same computer by different participants.

BMC Medical Ethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"I was supposed to be starting to take Tayshana to visit different schools. . . .

The New Yorker

"It was supposed to be starting this year, and of course it didn't happen," she said.

The New York Times

The day I found out I was having twins I was supposed to be starting a new job.

The Guardian

Nico had heard that a fast specimen referral system was supposed to be starting in the district.

The Guardian

At a time when you're not supposed to be starting anything new or spending any money, both of us are actually launching things".

Independent

One answer is that the arrangement from which the transition is supposed to be starting is whatever moral code the society happens to accept already.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "supposed to be started" when the commencement was planned or agreed upon. If the starting date is indefinite, consider using a different phrase to convey uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid overusing the passive voice in sentences using "supposed to be started". Instead of "The project was supposed to be started by the team", opt for a more direct approach like "The team was supposed to start the project" to improve readability and engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "supposed to be started" functions as a modal expression indicating an expectation, obligation, or plan for something to begin. As confirmed by Ludwig, it expresses that an action or process was intended to commence. It is typically used in contexts where there is a sense of missed deadlines or unmet expectations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "supposed to be started" is a grammatically correct expression used to indicate an anticipated or planned commencement of an activity, as confirmed by Ludwig. While not highly frequent, it appears consistently in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. When writing, clarify the agent responsible for starting the action to avoid ambiguity, and consider alternatives like "scheduled to commence" or "intended to be launched" to vary your language. While "supposed to be started" is accepted and understandable, be mindful of maintaining an active voice in your writing to improve clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meant to be initiated

Focuses on the intention or design for something to begin.

scheduled to commence

Emphasizes the timing and formal arrangement of a start date.

intended to be launched

Highlights the planned introduction or unveiling of something.

due to be activated

Indicates an expectation based on a set schedule or protocol for activation.

expected to be underway

Stresses that the action should already be in progress.

set to be implemented

Highlights readiness and preparation for putting a plan or system into effect.

slated to get going

More informal, this emphasizes the enthusiasm and anticipation of something beginning.

designed to be kicked off

Suggests a deliberate and planned commencement, often with fanfare.

programmed to initiate

Implies an automated or pre-set plan for beginning something.

targeted for activation

Emphasizes that a goal has been set to activate or start something, but it isn't in progress yet.

FAQs

How do I use "supposed to be started" in a sentence?

Use "supposed to be started" to indicate that something was planned or expected to begin at a certain time. For example, "The construction "was supposed to be started" last month, but it's delayed."

What is an alternative to "supposed to be started"?

Alternatives include phrases like "scheduled to begin", "intended to commence", or "expected to be initiated". Choose the phrase that best fits the specific context and conveys the intended meaning.

Is "supposed to be starting" the same as "supposed to be started"?

While similar, "supposed to be starting" implies a process that should be in the initial stages, while "supposed to be started" simply implies the commencement should have occurred. The difference is subtle but can affect the nuance.

What is the difference between "was supposed to start" and "was supposed to be started"?

"Was supposed to start" is more direct, indicating someone or something should have begun an action. "Was supposed to be started" is passive and implies something should have been initiated by someone or something else. For example, "The meeting "was supposed to start" at 9 AM" versus "The project "was supposed to be started" by the team last week."