Cool MateStarted vs Turned on
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Started
Top 1,000 (very common)
Turned on
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Started
| Started | Turned on | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈstɑːtɪd//🇺🇸 //ˈstɑrtɪd// | 🇬🇧 //tɜːnd ɒn//🇺🇸 //tɜrnd ɑn// |
| Meaning | To begin something. | started working, became active |
| Example | She started her own business last year. | He turned on the TV to watch the game. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | started a new job, started a conversation, started the engine, started on a journey, started a family | turned on the lights, turned on the computer, turned on the heater |
| Antonyms | finished, ended, completed | turned off, deactivated |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'start' as present tense., 'Starting' used instead of 'started' for past actions., Incorrectly using 'started' for future actions. | Confused with 'turned off' meaning to deactivate., Using in past tense incorrectly, e.g., 'I turn on the light.' instead of 'I turned on the light.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'started' to indicate the beginning of an action in the past. Appropriate in most contexts but avoid for very formal writing. | Used when something begins to operate. Commonly used with devices like lights or electronics. Avoid using in overly formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Started vs Turned on
What's the difference between Started and Turned on?
Started: To begin something. Turned on: started working, became active
Which is more common: Started and Turned on?
Started is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Started: She started her own business last year. Turned on: He turned on the TV to watch the game.
Can I use Started and Turned on interchangeably?
Not always. Started and Turned on are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.