Calling all English Geeks

[andrewducker]

(That's the language, not the country)

When would you use "Start" and when would you use "Begin"?

Comments

[odheirre.livejournal.com]

I'd say they could be used interchangeably, as long as you are consistent.

Having said that, start puts the emphasis on the actor. Begin puts the emphasis on what is acting. I start a process, and the process begins.

[blackmanxy.livejournal.com]

I use them largely interchangeably, opting for whichever one sounds better in a given sentence. I find "begin" slightly more formal and poetic and use it more often in writing than in speech.

[blackmanxy.livejournal.com]

Woops, replied to a reply instead of the OP. Sorry!