when he started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when he started" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the moment an action or event began, often in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "When he started his new job, he felt a mix of excitement and nervousness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Bobby's was not when he started.

The New Yorker

That was when he started collecting.

The New York Times

Pronovost had been canny when he started.

The New Yorker

When he started, he couldn't afford stars.

The New York Times - Arts

It was tricky when he started.

The Guardian - Sport

That stopped when he started playing guitar.

The Guardian - Music

That all changed when he started Plumen.

The Guardian

That's when he started writing the letters.

The New York Times

And then, when he started writing, he couldn't stop.

The New York Times

No one would have said that when he started.

The New York Times

They began to understand when he started calling them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when he started" to clearly indicate the initiation of an action or a state related to a male subject. Ensure that the context provides sufficient information about the subject to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses inconsistently within the same sentence or paragraph. If you're discussing something in the past, ensure the verbs related to "when he started" also remain in the past tense unless there's a specific reason to change tenses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when he started" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by indicating when an action or event occurred. Ludwig confirms its common usage. The phrase introduces a temporal context, specifying the moment an activity began.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when he started" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to introduce a temporal clause, indicating the beginning of an action or state related to a male subject. Ludwig AI analysis, based on numerous examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, confirms its broad usage across neutral registers, particularly in News & Media. When using this phrase, ensure tense consistency and clarity regarding the subject to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives exist, such as "as he began" or "at the start", "when he started" remains a direct and frequently employed choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the start

Simple and direct, indicating the beginning point.

as he began

Emphasizes the process of beginning, focusing on the action's unfolding.

when he initiated

Highlights the action of initiating something, suitable for formal contexts.

from the start

Emphasizes the continuous nature of something from its inception.

at the beginning

Focuses on the initial point in time, omitting the actor.

in the beginning

Refers to the initial phase or period.

from the outset

Highlights the starting point with an emphasis on the initial conditions.

upon his commencement

Uses a more formal term for starting, suitable for professional contexts.

in his early days

Refers to a period of time soon after the start, rather than the precise moment.

initially

Specifies the first stage or phase, often implying a subsequent change.

FAQs

How can I use "when he started" in a sentence?

Use "when he started" to introduce a clause that describes the beginning of an action or state related to a male subject. For example, "When he started playing guitar, he felt more confident".

What are some alternatives to "when he started"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "as he began", "at the start", or "upon his commencement".

Is it grammatically correct to say "when he had started" instead of "when he started"?

While both can be grammatically correct, "when he had started" implies a sequence of past actions where the starting action happened before another past action. "When he started" typically refers to a simple point in the past.

What's the difference between "when he started" and "from the moment he started"?

"When he started" simply indicates the point in time an action began. "From the moment he started" emphasizes the continuous impact or effect since that starting point.