commenced

Commenced is the past tense and past participle of commence, a verb meaning to begin or to set in motion. It is widely used in formal, legal, governmental, and business English, and in writing that aims for a formal tone. In everyday speech, speakers more often use begin or start, as these terms are generally simpler and more familiar.

Etymology and form: The verb derives from Old French comencier, from Latin incipere “to take on, to begin.” The noun commencement shares the same root. The regular forms are commence (present), commenced (past), and commencing (present participle).

Usage: Commence is typically used with a direct object that denotes what is being begun, such as proceedings, construction, operations, or actions. It can also be used intransitively with an implied object, as in “The ceremony commenced at noon.” Common collocations include commence proceedings, commence construction, and commence operations. The word is especially common in legal, regulatory, and formal business contexts.

Style considerations: Some style guides recommend using begin or start for clarity and conciseness, reserving commence for formal or technical writing. In many jurisdictions, formal verbs like commence are preferred in official documents and reports.

Examples:

- The company commenced the merger negotiations in March.

- Construction on the bridge commenced last year.

- The trial commenced after a brief delay.

See also: begin, start, initiate, commence proceedings, commencement.