Pluralized form of the word "beginning"(as in "beginning" as a starting point)

The beginning is a particular time, the point at which something began.

The beginnings are the activities of the initial stage of something. This can take some short period of time.

deadratThe beginning is a particular time, the point at which something began.The beginnings are the activities of the initial stage of something. This can take some short period of time.

I know, but isn't "humble beginning" almost always singular? I mean it is used to indicate that the entity being referred to has humble BACKGROUND, in that sense shouldn't it

A humble background isn't a single point. For a person, I would assume it's at least a childhood.

My newest favorite tool, Google's Ngram server finds that the plural has always been the favorite, by better than 2:1 over the past 50 years and pulling away.

deadratA humble background isn't a single point. For a person, I would assume it's at least a childhood.My newest favorite tool, Google's Ngram server finds that the plural has always been the favorite, by better than 2:1 over the past 50 years and pulling away.

Alrighty, then.
But still, don't you think the pluralized form is rarely used?
When was the

No, as I said, the data shows that the plural form is preferred.

Does Forbes Magaizne, last January, and a story about a TV personality do it for you? If so, go here:
http://www.for

deadratNo, as I said, the data shows that the plural form is preferred.Does Forbes Magaizne, last January, and a story about a TV personality do it for you? If so, go here:http://www.forbes.com/sites/tiffanypham/2015/01/26/how-she-did-it-jennifer-adams-from-humble-

maelstromhumble beginnings

Singular: 37 sentences in the database.
http://fraze.it/n_search.jsp?q=%22humble+beginning%22&l=0

Plural: 338 sentences in the database.