Calling all English Geeks

[andrewducker]

(That's the language, not the country)

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

Comments

[daisy-stitch.livejournal.com]

OK this is a quick response, not one I've spent hours reflecting on but my initial reaction is that "start" is something I apply to myself or others (eg "shall we get started?") and begin is more abstract "this is beginning to annoy me".

Having said that I do also apply "start" to things (eg I would say "the party started about 8" rather than "the party began" and I would also apply "begin" to myself in recollections/storytelling eg "when I was 15 I began to think that..."

Bit hazy I'm afraid.