to start school VS to begin school

Question

Hi,I have always thought that "to begin school" and "to start school" are both perfect English, e.g.:"Nick started school in the same year his younger brother was born"or"She began school well before first computers came into use" :-)On the other hand, based on my googling and COCA-ing, the collocation "to start school" seems to be used  MUCH more often than "to begin school". Could somebody please explain why the first "beats" the second in popularity?mus-te

GPY · Accepted Answer

Both "begin" and "start" are correct. I don't think there is any obvious explanation why "start" should be more common.

She began school well before the first computers came into use.
She began school well before computers first came into use.

MUSCOVITE · Answer

Thank you GPY!

GPYShe began school well before computers first came into use. (2)

This one is perfectly clear to me :-)

GPYShe began school well before the first computers came into use. (1)

Alas, this and similar samples are (and have always been ) beyond me.
Below is an example sentence I just borrowed from COCA:

For instance, they might assess potentially dangerous situations before first responders move in, she said. (3)
Why the definite article can be omitted before " first responders" in (3) yet is mandatory before "first computers" in (1)?
It beats me...

GPY · Answer

It's probably because "first responder" is treated as a noun in its own right, and "first responders" as an ordinary plural noun, for which an article is not necessarily required (cf. "before police move in", "before computers were invented"). On the other hand, because there is no such thing as "first computer" in any similar or relevant sense, "first" in that case has to be treated as part of the pattern "the first + noun", for which an article (or other determiner) is required.

CalifJim · Answer

MUSCOVITEbased on my googling and COCA-ing, the collocation "to start school" seems to be used MUCH more often than "to begin school". Could somebody please explain why the first "beats" the second in popularity?

This phenomenon may be attributable to the principle that we repeat what we hear. Once one expression gains popularity over another, the balance tends to remain the same. Personally, I would never use "[for a person] to begin school"; it sounds wrong to me, though "school begins" sounds fine.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

GPYIt's probably because "first responder" is treated as a noun in its own right, and "first responders" as an ordinary plural noun, for which an article is not necessarily required (cf. "before police move in", "before computers were invented").

I think this is exactly right.

A before [first responders] move in ~
1. before responders who are specially trained to do what must be done immediately (i.e., first) move in (a 'first responder' is a special kind of responder)

B before the first responders move in ~
1. before any kinds of responders who happen to be the first on the scene move in (the [first] [responders])
2. Same as A1, but a particular group of first responders (perhaps mentioned earlier). (the [first responders])

Theoretically, you could have "before the [first] [first responders] move in"

(Of course, there are no "computers of a special kind that are called 'first computers'", so that choice is unavailable.)

I haven't tried it, but one might be able to offer a similar example with "second violins".

CJ

to start school VS to begin school

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