to start off with

USAGE SUMMARY

"to start off with" is a very common phrase used in written English.
It typically used to introduce a statement or point that is being made, usually at the beginning of a sentence. For example, "To start off with, I would like to thank everyone involved in organizing this event."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was nothing to start off with.

The Guardian - Arts

I'm going to start off with it as a digraph.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Again, I'm going to start off with initial load.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

They weren't killing people to start off with.

The Guardian

Everyone needs to start off with the same information base.

Harvard Business Review

That was the question I really wanted to start off with.

Yale University

I'm just going to start off with a brief, general introduction to mosquitoes.

Harvard University

My implementation was to start off with a single lazy node.

Stanford University

We have provided you with skelatal routines to start off with.

Cornell University

You can give them a practice question to start off with.

Stanford University

To start off with, let's get rid of this rather trivial example.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to start off with" to clearly signal the beginning of a sequence of points or actions. This helps your audience follow your line of reasoning more easily.

Common error

Avoid starting every sentence with "to start off with". Vary your introductory phrases to maintain reader engagement and prevent your writing from sounding repetitive. Consider using alternatives like "initially" or "firstly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to start off with" functions as an introductory adverbial phrase. It typically modifies a clause or sentence, signaling that what follows is the first in a series of points or actions. Ludwig confirms its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

27%

News & Media

40%

Academia

22%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to start off with" is a very common and grammatically sound introductory phrase. As Ludwig AI indicates, it serves to signal the beginning of a sequence of points or actions across various writing registers. It's particularly frequent in News & Media and Wiki, but also enjoys considerable usage in Academia. While highly versatile, overusing "to start off with" can lead to redundancy, so it's wise to incorporate alternatives like "initially" or "to begin with" to enhance clarity and engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to begin with

A slightly more formal alternative, maintaining a similar structure and meaning.

initially

Focuses on the beginning stage or action, omitting the prepositional construction.

at the beginning

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of starting, using a more direct prepositional phrase.

for starters

An informal option, typically used to introduce the first of several examples or reasons.

firstly

Highlights the first point in a series, commonly used in structured arguments.

to commence with

A more formal alternative, suitable for professional contexts.

as a starting point

Suggests a foundation for further discussion or action, using a noun phrase.

at first

Focuses on the initial impression or stage, often implying a subsequent change.

in the first place

Indicates a primary reason or factor, often used to introduce an argument.

initiate by

Highlights the action of beginning, often followed by a specific step or procedure.

FAQs

How to use "to start off with" in a sentence?

Use "to start off with" at the beginning of a sentence to introduce the first point or action in a series. For example, "To start off with, let's review the project goals."

What can I say instead of "to start off with"?

You can use alternatives like "initially", "to begin with", or "firstly" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "to start off with" or "to start with"?

Both "to start off with" and "to start with" are correct, but "to start off with" is often used to emphasize the introductory nature of the point being made.

What's the difference between "to start off with" and "in the first place"?

"To start off with" introduces the initial point in a sequence, while "in the first place" /s/in+the+first+place emphasizes a primary reason or condition.