Guide 06 / 200 6 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “start”
Five verbs that carry their own weight so "start" doesn't have to.
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
The right choice depends on ceremony. "Begin" is the quiet default. "Commence" and "inaugurate" reach for the ribbon-cutting. "Launch" is for products; "initiate" is for processes and protocols.
ii · The swaps6 ways
- 01Begin neutral
the universal drop-in for "start"
We begin onboarding in week two.
- 02Commence formal
ceremonial, legal, or old-school register
Proceedings commence at 09:00.
- 03Initiate formal
kick off a formal process or protocol
Initiate the rollback after on-call approves.
- 04Launch neutral
go live with a product or campaign
Launched the beta in three markets.
- 05Embark on formal
begin a large or ambitious undertaking
Embarked on a year-long platform rewrite.
- 06Kick off informal
conversational — meetings, projects
We'll kick off Monday at 10.