the course commences

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the course commences" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the beginning of a course or educational program. Example: "The course commences on September 1st, and all students are expected to attend the orientation session."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

An introduction to the course and the platform is provided to the students at the beginning of the semester when the course commences.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In 1998, British Aerospace was granted a contract to supply tri-service basic flying instruction at the newly formed Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School (ADFBFTS) in Tamworth, the first course commencing in January 1999 on CT-4B Airtrainers, and No. 2 FTS again became responsible for advanced flying training only.

Wikipedia

The assessment battery was administered at three time points: before the training course commenced (baseline), immediately after training concluded (post-training) and 6 months after the training program was completed (follow-up).

BMC Psychiatry

The second EATS course commenced on 27 June; eighteen of the twenty-four students graduated.

Wikipedia

The inaugural flying course commenced in January 1923.

Wikipedia

The first pilots' course commenced on 1 April 1952, and graduated on 1 August.

Wikipedia

The school's inaugural EATS course commenced in May.

Wikipedia

The first courses commenced on 22 December.

Wikipedia

No. 2 SFTS's facilities were still under construction when its first course commenced with Avro Ansons on 29 July 1940.

Wikipedia

The mobile recruitment team is available seven days a week, as it is essential to commence the interventions as soon as possible after the course of antibiotics has commenced.

BMC Family Practice

Training courses commenced at the new base the day after the move was completed.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the course commences" when aiming for a slightly more formal or academic tone. In everyday conversation, "the course starts" or "the course begins" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "the course commences" in casual contexts. It can sound unnecessarily stiff or pretentious when a simpler alternative would suffice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the course commences" functions as a statement indicating the initiation or beginning of an educational program. It serves to inform or notify about the start date of a course.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

News & Media

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "the course commences" is a grammatically correct but somewhat formal way to indicate that a course is starting. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, although it suggests that simpler alternatives like "the course begins" or "the course starts" are often preferred. While it appears in various contexts including scientific publications, Wikipedia, and news articles, its overall frequency is rare. When choosing this phrase, consider the desired level of formality and the audience. In casual settings, a more common alternative might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the course begins

Uses a more common synonym for "commences".

the course starts

Replaces "commences" with another frequent synonym.

the course will start

Uses a more direct and simpler future tense.

the course is scheduled to commence

Adds a degree of formality and planning.

the course gets underway

Employs a more idiomatic expression.

the program begins

Substitutes "course" with "program", maintaining similar meaning.

the course opens

Uses "opens" as a less common but understandable synonym.

the course is initiated

Replaces "commences" with a more formal term.

the instruction begins

Uses a different noun and verb combination to convey the same meaning.

the lectures start

Focuses on a specific aspect of the course.

FAQs

What does "the course commences" mean?

It means the course is starting or beginning. The word "commences" simply indicates the start or initiation of the course.

What can I say instead of "the course commences"?

You can use alternatives like "the course begins" or "the course starts", which are more common and less formal.

Is it correct to say "the course commences"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct, but it is considered a more formal way of saying that a course is starting. Simpler alternatives are perfectly acceptable and often preferred.

When is it appropriate to use "the course commences"?

It's appropriate in formal settings, such as academic announcements, official communications, or when a slightly elevated tone is desired. In casual conversation, simpler alternatives would be more suitable.