will start shortly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "will start shortly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to an event or activity that is about to begin soon. Example sentence: The meeting will start shortly, so please take your seats and prepare for the presentation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The tour will start shortly afterwards.

Harvard University

He says the clues will start shortly after 5 p.m.

The Washington Post

Mr Martin said discussions with the Swedish government on the issue will start shortly.

The Guardian - Business

The red paint project will start shortly and the results assessed at the end of the summer.

The Guardian

Play will resume this morning, and the final round will start shortly after the third round is completed.

The New York Times - Sports

A trial of it will start shortly, with 50 high-conflict families being sought across the country.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Chris Grayling, shadow leader of the Commons, has been urging such an inquiry which will reportedly start shortly.

The Guardian

Shares of Facebook, which will trade under the ticker FB, will start trading shortly thereafter.

The New York Times

Shares in Sir Martin Sorrell's new advertising venture will start trading shortly, months before it completes the takeover of a Dutch agency.

The Times

As the garlanded victor ludorum of the 98th race takes the podium, I shall be making notes in the margin of the 2011 Michelin Guide Rouge: places to visit on the Not The Tour de France, the second étape of which will start very shortly.

The Guardian - Travel

The previously announced series nine will start filming shortly, the BBC said.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "will start shortly" to create a sense of anticipation and immediacy. It's suitable for announcements and updates where a precise start time is not crucial but the event is expected soon.

Common error

While "will start shortly" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal documents or presentations. Opt for more precise language, such as "will commence at [time]" or "will begin promptly at [time]", to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will start shortly" primarily functions as a future tense construction indicating an event or activity is about to commence. It functions to provide an indication of time, communicating that an action is impending. Ludwig provides numerous examples in which this phrase is used in similar ways.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

12%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "will start shortly" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that an event or activity is about to begin soon. Ludwig AI confirms this, demonstrating diverse usage across various contexts, including News & Media, Academia, Formal & Business, and Science. While generally neutral in register, it may be advisable to use more formal alternatives in highly professional settings. The phrase effectively conveys immediacy and anticipation, making it suitable for announcements and updates where a precise start time isn't critical. However, be mindful of overusing it, especially in formal contexts where greater precision is preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will commence soon

Replaces "start" with "commence" and "shortly" with "soon", offering a slightly more formal tone.

will begin promptly

Substitutes "start" with "begin" and "shortly" with "promptly", emphasizing punctuality.

will be starting soon

Adds the continuous aspect to "start", indicating an ongoing preparatory phase.

will initiate imminently

Replaces "start" with "initiate" and "shortly" with "imminently", creating a more formal and emphatic statement.

will be initiated in a moment

It more formally expresses an event will start soon

is about to begin

Uses a different structure to convey the same meaning of near commencement.

will launch momentarily

Implies an immediate or very near start, often used for events or products.

will get underway soon

Replaces "start" with the idiomatic "get underway" and "shortly" with "soon".

is scheduled to begin soon

Highlights that the beginning is part of the plan and will happen soon.

will kick off presently

Uses the informal "kick off" for "start" and "presently" for "shortly".

FAQs

How can I use "will start shortly" in a sentence?

You can use "will start shortly" to indicate that an event or activity is about to begin in the near future. For example, "The presentation "will start shortly", so please take your seats".

What phrases are similar to "will start shortly"?

Alternatives include "will begin soon", "is about to start", or "will commence shortly", all conveying the idea of an imminent beginning.

Is "will start shortly" appropriate for formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "will start shortly" may be considered less formal. For more formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "will commence promptly" or specifying a precise start time.

What's the difference between "will start shortly" and "will start soon"?

While both indicate a near future start, "will start shortly" suggests a more immediate timeframe than "will start soon". "Shortly" implies something is happening imminently, whereas "soon" is more general.