Notes on usage: Start

Begin  -  Start off  -  Kick off  -  Commence  -  Open

 

These words are all used to talk about things happening from the beginning, or people doing the first part of sth.

 

Start to begin to happen or exist; to begin in a particular way or from a particular point: When does the class start?
Begin to start to happen or exist; to start in a particular way or from a particular point; to start speaking: When does the concert begin?
Start off (rather informal) to start happening or doing sth; to start by doing or being sth: The discussion started off mildly enough.
Kick off (informal) to start an event or activity, especially in a particular way; (of an event, activity, etc.) to start, especially in a particular way: Tom will kick off with a few comments. | The festival kicks off on Monday, September 13.
Commence (formal) to start happening: The meeting is scheduled to commence at noon.
Open to start an event or activity in a particular way; (of an event, film/movie or book) to start, especially in a particular way: The story opens with a murder.

 

START OR BEGIN?
There is not much difference in meaning between these words. Start is more frequent in spoken English and in business contexts; begin is more frequent in written English and is often used when you are describing a series of events: The story begins on the island of Corfu. Start is not used to mean ‘begin speaking’: ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he started.

 

PATTERNS
*to start/begin/start off/kick off/commence/open with sth
*to start/begin/start off/kick off/commence/open by doing sth
*to start/begin/start off/commence as sth
*a campaign/season/meeting starts/begins/starts off/ kicks off/commences/opens
*a film/movie/book starts/begins/starts off/opens

 

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Top Tips Abz Ingles - Notes on usage - Synonyms
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See also:

Common Phrasal Verbs	Irregular Verbs List
Common Sentences Errors	Frequently confused words
Common Clichés	Thematic list of Idioms
Common misspellings	Phrasal Verbs Particles list
Common Preposition	Lista de Términos Gramaticales

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