was starting

USAGE SUMMARY

"was starting" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a past action that had already begun but had not been completed. Example: I was starting to get worried when he arrived late.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It was starting to happen.

The New York Times

The second overtime was starting.

The New York Times

She was starting over, newborn.

The New Yorker

I was starting to believe!

Independent

A pattern was starting.

The New York Times - Style

He was starting again.

The New Yorker

A ritual was starting.

The New York Times - Travel

Now doubt was starting its treacherous nagging.

The New York Times

The dirt was starting to settle down.

The New York Times

The strain was starting to show.

The New York Times

It was starting to get scary.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was starting" to describe an action that began in the past and continued for a period of time. For example, "The rain "was starting" to fall heavily as we left the house."

Common error

Avoid using "was starting" when you need a simple past tense. For example, instead of saying "He "was starting" the engine and drove away immediately", say "He started the engine and drove away immediately."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was starting" functions as the past continuous tense of the verb "start". It's used to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. As Ludwig AI points out, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was starting" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe actions in progress in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it accurately portrays an ongoing process. Its usage is primarily seen in news and media, but can also be applied to scientific and business contexts. To diversify your writing, consider alternatives like "began to" or "commenced", but be mindful of slight variations in formality and meaning. Remember, "was starting" implies an action unfolding over time in the past, differentiating it from the simple past tense "started".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

began to

Emphasizes the commencement of an action or state, similar to "was starting", but with a slightly more definitive sense of initiation.

was commencing

A more formal alternative using the continuous tense.

commenced

A more formal and concise way of saying something began.

initiated

Highlights the active and intentional commencement of something.

was initiating

Similar to "initiated", but in continuous form, emphasizing ongoing action during the start.

got underway

Indicates that an event or process has begun, often implying a structured or planned start.

was getting going

An informal way to suggest the beginning or progress of an activity.

marked the start of

Emphasizes the significance of a beginning.

saw the beginning of

Focuses on observing the start of an event or process.

was on the verge of beginning

Highlights the imminence of a start, suggesting that it was about to happen.

FAQs

How can I use "was starting" in a sentence?

Use "was starting" to describe an action that began in the past and was in progress. For example, "The audience "was starting" to get restless while waiting for the show to begin."

What's the difference between "was starting" and "started"?

"Was starting" implies an ongoing action in the past, while "started" indicates a completed action at a specific point in the past. For instance, "He "was starting" to understand the problem" suggests a gradual process, while "He started the project yesterday" means he initiated it on that particular day.

What are some alternatives to "was starting"?

Alternatives include "began to", "commenced", or "initiated", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is starting" instead of "was starting"?

The choice between "is starting" and "was starting" depends on the time frame. Use "is starting" for present actions and "was starting" for actions that occurred in the past. For example, "The presentation is starting now" versus "The presentation "was starting" when I arrived".