they started dating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they started dating" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the beginning of a romantic relationship between two people. Example: "After months of friendship, they started dating and quickly fell in love."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They started dating.

The New Yorker

Eventually they started dating.

The Washington Post

Slowly, after many walks, they started dating.

The New York Times

They started dating in November.

The New York Times - Magazine

They started dating at university.

The New York Times

They started dating, then playing music together.

The Guardian - Books

They started dating after their freshman year.

The New Yorker

They started dating soon after the trial.

The New Yorker

Shortly after that, they started dating.

The New York Times

They started dating in early April.

The New York Times - Style

They became friends again, and in June they started dating.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they started dating" when you want to clearly and simply state the beginning of a romantic relationship. It's suitable for most general contexts.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses when describing a sequence of events. If you start in the past tense with "they started dating", continue using the past tense for subsequent actions. For instance, instead of "They started dating, and now they are getting married", say "They started dating, and then they got married".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they started dating" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of a romantic relationship. It clearly denotes the beginning of a dating period, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Academia

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they started dating" is a grammatically correct and common way to express the beginning of a romantic relationship. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is suitable for general use, particularly in news and media contexts. While neutral in tone, it can be replaced with more formal or informal alternatives depending on the specific situation. Pay attention to maintaining tense consistency and avoid using the phrase when describing non-romantic relationships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they began a relationship

Replaces "started dating" with a more formal term, focusing on the commencement of a relationship.

they became romantically involved

Emphasizes the romantic aspect of the relationship's beginning.

they commenced dating

Uses a more formal verb, "commenced", to indicate the beginning of dating.

they entered into a relationship

Highlights the transition into a defined relationship status.

they paired off

An informal expression indicating the formation of a couple.

romance blossomed between them

Uses figurative language to describe the development of romantic feelings and subsequent dating.

they got together

A common, informal way to describe the beginning of a romantic relationship.

they became an item

An older, slightly dated idiom for starting a relationship.

they started seeing each other

Emphasizes the initial stages of dating and getting to know one another.

they courted

A more traditional and formal term for dating, suggesting a period of courtship.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "they started dating"?

You can use alternatives like "they began a relationship", "they became romantically involved", or "they got together" depending on the context.

Is "they started dating" formal or informal?

The phrase "they started dating" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives exist, such as "they commenced dating".

How to use "they started dating" in a sentence?

You can use "they started dating" to describe the beginning of a romantic relationship between two people. For example, "After months of friendship, they started dating and quickly fell in love."

What's the difference between "they started dating" and "they are dating"?

"They started dating" refers to the beginning of the relationship, while "they are dating" indicates that the relationship is ongoing. The first focuses on the initiation, and the second on the current status.