when it began

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when it began" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the starting point of an event or situation in both formal and informal contexts. Example: "I still remember the day when it began, and how everything changed from that moment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

When it began its market reforms, China was saddled with monstrously polluting, Soviet-inspired heavy industry.

The Economist

The gain this year is the index's best since 2009, when it began its bull run.

The New York Times

Five of them weren't even with the team when it began its last trip.

Los Angeles Times

Kera emerged from free beta earlier in February, when it began charging its first customers.

TechCrunch

The ideas business was already overcrowded when it began to flex its muscles.

The Economist

But when it began to offer bigger-screen phones, its volumes increased.

TechCrunch

Microsoft first discovered its talent for gaming back in 1983, when it began selling Flight Simulator.

Forbes

(Not when it began, though.

The New Yorker

And that's when it began.

The Guardian - Sport

He was 4 when it began.

The New York Times

He was at work when it began.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when it began" to clearly indicate the starting point of a process, event, or organization, providing a temporal reference for your audience. For example, "The project faced numerous challenges when it began, but eventually succeeded."

Common error

Avoid using "when it began" without providing sufficient context. Ensure that the reader understands what 'it' refers to; otherwise, the sentence may lack clarity. For example, instead of saying "When it began, the situation was chaotic", specify "When the negotiations began, the situation was chaotic".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when it began" functions as an adverbial clause of time, providing temporal context to the main clause of a sentence. Ludwig examples show it is used to specify the starting point of an event, process, or entity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when it began" serves as an adverbial clause of time, functioning to anchor events to a specific starting point. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and broadly applicable, fitting into various registers from neutral news reports to more formal analyses. Its prevalence across authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability and widespread use. When crafting sentences, ensuring contextual clarity is key to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "at its inception" or "from the outset" can offer nuanced variations, but ""when it began"" remains a straightforward and universally understood choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the start

A simple and direct way of indicating the beginning.

in the beginning

A general phrase to refer to the start of something.

from the outset

Emphasizes the beginning stage of a process or activity.

from day one

Emphasizes the very first day or beginning of something.

at its inception

Focuses on the initial creation or founding moment.

from the get-go

An informal way to say from the very beginning.

since its commencement

Highlights a more formal beginning or start.

in its early stages

Refers to the initial phase of development or existence.

initially

An adverb describing the first action or state.

at its genesis

Highlights the origin or creation point.

FAQs

How can I use "when it began" in a sentence?

You can use "when it began" to introduce a clause that specifies the starting point of an event or process. For example, "The company struggled "when it began", but it eventually found success."

What are some alternatives to "when it began"?

Some alternatives include "at its inception", "from the outset", or "in its early stages". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "at the time it began" instead of "when it began"?

Yes, "at the time it began" is a correct alternative, although ""when it began"" is more concise and commonly used.

What's the difference between "when it began" and "after it began"?

"When it began" refers to the initial moment or period, while "after it began" refers to the period following the start. They have different temporal focus.